CYTOTOXICITY OF ALOE VERA EXTRACT ON CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA CELLS; IN VITRO STUDY ON CYTOTOXICITY ON HL-60 CELLS

Aloe vera has been traditionally used for its various therapeutic properties, but its potential anticancer effects have not been thoroughly explored. Understanding its efficacy against leukemia could significantly impact care recommendations for leukemia patients. Objective: This in-vitro study aims to establish the anti-cancerous effects of Aloe vera on the Human Leukemia HL-60 cell line. Methods: Following approval from the Ethical Review Committee, this study involved culturing the HL-60 cell line and treating it with increasing concentrations of Aloe vera extract to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). The MTT assay was employed to assess cell viability, and the absorbance was measured using an ELISA reader. Gene expression levels of pro-apoptotic biomarkers, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9, were also quantified to gauge apoptosis induction. Results: Aloe vera demonstrated a relatively low IC50 value of 13.1 µM in the HL-60 cell line, indicating potent cytotoxicity. Notably, pro-apoptotic biomarkers were highly expressed, with Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 recording gene expression levels of 11.1 and 13.7, respectively. Conclusion: Aloe vera exhibited significant pro-apoptotic effects against the leukemia HL-60 cell line, suggesting its potential as an anti-cancer agent. Further in-vivo and clinical studies are warranted to elucidate the specific pathways through which Aloe vera exerts these effects and to validate its use in clinical settings.