Sains Malaysiana 52(6)(2023): 1785-1794

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5206-14

A Systematic Review of the Clinical Effectiveness of Aloe vera for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Wounds

(Suatu Ulasan Sistematik Keberkesanan Klinikal Aloe vera untuk Pencegahan dan Rawatan Luka Kronik)

AHMAD NUR AFIEQ IDRUS¹, KHURRAM REHMAN² & MOHD HANIF ZULFAKAR^1,3,*

¹Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

²Department of Pharmacy, Forman Christian College, Ferozpur Road, 54600, Lahore, Pakistan

³Centre for Drug Delivery Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 25 Februari 2023/Diterima: 12 Jun 2023

Abstract

Aloe vera is an herbaceous and perennial plant that belongs to Liliaceae family and used for many medicinal purposes. Aloe vera have been associated with the treatment of skin burns and postoperative wound healing but not many clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate its effectiveness against chronic wounds such as pressure injury. The present study aimed to systematically review clinical trials investigating the effect of Aloe vera on the prevention and healing of chronic wounds. To identify all related published studies, Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Ovid MEDLINE databases were searched in English language from the year 2015-2022. All clinical trials using Aloe vera gel, cream, or derivatives that included a control group with placebo or comparison with other treatments were included in the study according to the PRISMA selection process. In total, 11 trials that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. The results of the studies showed successful use of Aloe vera in the prevention and treatment of chronic wounds including pressure injuries, chronic wound ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, chronic anal fissures, and traumatic oral ulceration due to orthodontic appliances. Based on its safety and efficacy profile, this review concluded that Aloe verahas potential benefits to be used as a complementary or alternative treatment in chronic wounds along with conventional methods. Its ability to retain skin moisture and preservation of skin integrity supports its use in the prevention of ulcers.

Keywords: Aloe vera; chronic wound; clinical trial; wound prevention; wound treatment

Abstrak

Aloe vera adalah tumbuhan herba dan saka yang tergolong dalam famili Liliaceae dan banyak digunakan untuk tujuan perubatan. Aloe vera telah dikaitkan dengan rawatan kulit melecur dan penyembuhan luka selepas pembedahan tetapi tidak banyak kajian klinikal yang dijalankan untuk menilai keberkesanannya terhadap luka kronik seperti kecederaan tekanan. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menilai secara sistematik ujian klinikal yang mengkaji kesan Aloe vera terhadap pencegahan dan penyembuhan luka kronik. Untuk mengenal pasti semua kajian berkaitan yang telah diterbitkan, artikel dalam bahasa Inggeris dari tahun 2015-2022 telah dicari di pangkalan data Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed dan Ovid MEDLINE. Semua ujian klinikal menggunakan gel Aloe vera, krim atau derivatif yang turut melibatkan kumpulan kawalan dengan plasebo atau perbandingan dengan rawatan lain dimasukkan ke dalam kajian mengikut proses pemilihan PRISMA. Eja ujian yang memenuhi kriteria kemasukan telah disemak. Hasil kajian menunjukkan keberkesanan penggunaan Aloe vera dalam pencegahan dan rawatan luka kronik termasuk kecederaan tekanan, ulser luka kronik, ulser kaki diabetik, fisur dubur kronik dan ulser mulut traumatik akibat peralatan ortodontik. Kajian ini menyimpulkan bahawa Aloe vera mempunyai potensi untuk digunakan sebagai pelengkap atau rawatan alternatif dalam luka kronik bersama-sama dengan kaedah konvensional. Keupayaannya untuk mengekalkan kelembapan kulit dan pemeliharaan integriti kulit menyokong penggunaannya dalam pencegahan ulser.

Kata kunci: Aloe vera; luka kronik; pencegahan luka; rawatan luka; ujian klinikal

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: hanifzulfakar@ukm.edu.my