Acemannan is an extract from aloe vera, a plant with a long history of traditional medicine usage for wound healing. Acemannan, an immune polysaccharide (sugar molecule), belongs to a group of biological response modifiers that interact with the receptors (cell communicators) on the surface of immune system cells, having a stimulatory effect. In studies, acemannan immunostimulant compounds have demonstrated antiviral properties, and been shown to directly interact with viruses and tumor cells, producing changes to their outer surface which cause them to become recognizable to the body’s immune system, and therefore targeted for destruction. In veterinary medicine, acemannan compounds have been used as an adjuct to surgery and radiation to promote the destruction of solid tumors. An acemannan-based immunostimulant drug has even been approved for the treatment of fibrosarcoma (a type of cancer) in dogs and cats.
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Acemannan Stimulates Wound Healing
Aloe vera has long been used as a traditional medicine for inducing wound healing. Findings suggest that acemannan plays a significant role in the oral wound healing process via the induction of fibroblast proliferation and stimulation of KGF-1, VEGF, and type I collagen expressions.
Induction of Apotptosis in a Macrophage Cell Line by Acemannan
Acemannan is a polydispersed beta -(1,4)-linked acetylated mannan with antiviral properties. It is an immunomodulator, and studies in our laboratory have shown that it causes activation of macrophages. In the presence of IFNgamma, acemannan induced apoptosis in RAW 264.7 cells.
Uses of Acemannan
The use of acemannan for the manufacture of a medicament for a vaccine adjuvant, for the production of a defective virus, for the treatment of an inflammatory bowel disease, for the correction of mucosal cell maturation syndromes, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, and for the correction of malabsorption.
Acemannan Induces Nitric Oxide Production in Macrophage Cell Line
Acemannan is a polydispersed beta-(1,4)-linked acetylated mannan with antiviral properties. It is an immunomodulator, and studies in our laboratory have shown that it causes activation of macrophages. Results suggest that acemannan causes the activation of macrophages by increasing the level of nitric oxide synthase at the level of transcription.
Pilot Study of the Effect of Acemannan in Cats Infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Acemannan, a complex carbohydrate shown to stimulate interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha and prostaglandin E2 production by macrophages, has also demonstrated antiviral activity in vitro against human immunodeficiency virus, Newcastle disease virus and influenza virus. A pilot study was undertaken to determine acemannan’s effect in 49 feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infected cats. Results suggest that acemannan therapy may be of significant benefit in FIV-infected cats exhibiting clinical signs of disease.
Studies of the Effect of Acemannan on Retrovirus Infections Clinical Stabilization of Feline Leukemia Virus-Infected Cats
Acemannan is a complex carbohydrate with both immunostimulatory and direct antiviral properties. Administration of acemannan for 6 weeks intraperitoneally to clinically symptomatic cats significantly improved both the quality of life and the survival rate. Twelve weeks after initiation of treatment, 71% of treated cats were alive and in good health.
The Effect of Acemannan Immunostimulant in Combination with Surgery and Radiation Therapy on Spontaneous Canine and Feline Fibrosarcomas
Following four to seven weekly acemannan treatments, tumor shrinkage occurred in four of 12 animals, with tumors accessible to measurement. A notable increase in necrosis and inflammation was observed. Acemannan Immunostimulant may be an effective adjunct to surgery and radiation therapy in the treatment of canine and feline fibrosarcomas.
Biological Response Modifiers Mannose and Acemannan in Pets (PDF file)
Biological response modifiers are large sugar molecules (immune polysaccharides), or sugar and protein molecules (glycoproteins) that interact with the receptors on the surface of immune system cells. These receptors coat the surface of every cell with a nucleus, helping to facilitate communication between cells. Glycoproteins and immune polysaccharides increase the ability of white blood cells (macrophages) to destroy infectious organisms and may possess bone marrow stimulating activity. They also help promote the destruction of solid tumors such as fibrosarcomas and have proven very useful in the treatment of immune deficiency disorders of cats such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection and feline immunodeficiency (FIV) infection. Acemannan is an immune polysaccharide that it has been well researched and consistently found to improve immune function in a variety of disorders. Ample evidence also supports the use of acemannan in the treatment of cancer. In a study of its use in fibrosarcoma, 50% of animals treated with weekly acemannan injections demonstrated tumor shrinkage and necrosis.
The Use of Acemannan in Dogs and Cats
Acemannan is a compound used to stimulate the immune system to be more effective in killing certain viruses (FeLV and FIV) and certain cancer cells (fibrosarcomas). Given orally or by injection. Assists in the treatment of immunosuppression caused by feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infections, and certain cancers. FDA approved for use as part of the treatment for fibrosarcoma (a type of cancer) in dogs and cats. It stimulates release of cytokines which then help the body kill the cancer cells and may help kill certain viruses also.
Acemannan Immunostimulant for Veterinary Use
Acemannan is a potent stimulator of macrophage activity. It has been shown to increase TNF-Î± and IL-1 production in animals. A study was done in 9 dogs and 9 cats with histopathologically confirmed fibrosarcoma. Twelve of the 18 showed gross tumor necrosis.
Veterinary Medicine: Acemannan for Fibrosarcoma
A prescription-only injectible form or Acemannan is available through veterinarians It is indicated for use in the dog and cat as an aid in treatment (i.e. surgery) and clinical management of fibrosarcoma. It potentiates cellular and humoral immunity; stimulates macrophage to release Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) which contribute to tumor breakdown; extends patient survivability when used as an adjunct to surgery in the treatment of canine and feline fibrosarcoma; triggers an increase in natural killer cell and cytotoxic T-cell activity; improves tumor margination for easier surgical removal; and does not have the typical side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation.
Uses of Aloe Products, e.g. Acemannan, in the Treatment of Diseases Requiring Intervention of the Immune System for Cure
Acemannan has been shown to be effective in treating a number of conditions where the principal mechanism of resolution or cure requires intervention by the patient’s immune system. Acemannan has direct stimulatory effects on the immune system. In addition, acemannan directly interacts with virus or other infectious organisms, infected cells, and tumor cells to produce changes in their immunologically sensitive surface composition to alter the appearance of these agents and cause them to be recognized by the body’s immune system and then destroyed. This document contains 51 examples on research and studies of acemannan for wide range of diseases including HIV (6,8), cancer (21,25-27), Crohn’s disease (12), multiple sclerosis (17), high cholesterol (30), allergies (32,33), lupus (39), rheumatoid arthritis (41), feline leukemia (43), and athlete’s foot (50).
Biotherapy with the Pineal Immunomodulating Hormone Melatonin Versus Melatonin Plus Aloe Vera in Untreatable Advanced Solid Neoplasms
Neurohormones, such as…melatonin, may activate anticancer immunity. Immunomodulating substances have also been isolated from plants, particularly from Aloe vera. The percentage of non-progressing patients was significantly higher in the group treated with melatonin plus aloe than in the melatonin group. Natural cancer therapy with melatonin plus Aloe vera extracts may produce some therapeutic benefits in patients with advanced solid tumors, for whom no other standard effective therapy is available.
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