Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Development and Characterization of Fusidic Acid-Loaded Alginate-Aloe vera Based Hydrogel Film
Published on: December 13, 2024
[Relationship between antibacterial activity of aloe and its anthaquinone compounds]
Bing Tian1, Yue-jin Hua, Xiao-qiong Ma
1Department of Applied Bioscience, Institute of Nuclear-Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, Zhejiang, China. tianbing@zju.edu.cn
Objective:
To investigate the relationship between the antibacterial activity of aloe and its contents of anthaquinone compounds, measure and compale antibacterial activities of aloin and aloe-emodin, and analyse the effect of glycoside on the antibacterial activity of aloin.
Method:
The antibacterial activities of the extracts from the outer leaf of Aloe saponaria Haw, aloin and aloe-emodin against three Gram-negative and two Gram-positive bacteria were investigated with the method of agar diffusion. The antibacterial effect of aloin on E. coli was further studied with scanning electron microscopy.
Result:
The antibacterial activities of aloe showed to be dependent on the dose of anthraquinone, aloin (1 g x L(-1)) exhibited higher antibacterial activity [inhibition diameter > (7. 1 +/- 0.15) mm] than Aloe-emodin (inhibition diameter < 5.0 mm), and aloin changed the morphology of E. coli and damaged the outer cell structrue.
Conclusion:
Anthraquinone compounds are the active antibacterial components in aloe and aloin is the main active compound. The glycoside makes it easy for aloin to invade cells and enhances its activity.
Related Concept Videos
Antimicrobial Effectiveness
Aryldiazonium Salts to Azo Dyes: Diazo Coupling
Cholinergic Antagonists: Pharmacokinetics
Cholinergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox property is crucial in...
Combined Effects of Drugs: Antagonism
The most common type is receptor antagonism, where one drug acts as an antagonist to block the effects of another drug by...