POTENCIAL TERAPÊUTICO DA ALOE VERA NO CARCINOMA DE CÉLULAS ESCAMOSAS CORNEANO EM CÃO

The plant Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Mill.) is widely recognized for its therapeutic properties, notably its anti-inflammatory, healing, and antineoplastic actions attributed to bioactive compounds such as acemannan and aloe-emodin. Although its use is well-established in human medicine, therapeutic application in veterinary medicine remains limited, especially regarding ophthalmic conditions like corneal squamous cell carcinoma, a malignant neoplasm that compromises vision and quality of life in dogs. Given this gap, the present study aimed to describe the use of in natura Aloe vera gel as an adjuvant and alternative therapeutic approach in the treatment of a case of corneal squamous cell carcinoma in a canine. The study consisted of a qualitative and descriptive report of a 14-year-old male Shih-Tzu dog presenting a 2 mm neoformation in the left cornea, diagnosed via histopathological examination. The therapeutic protocol involved the manual extraction of mucilaginous gel from fresh leaves, processed to reduce the concentration of irritating latex. The gel was applied topically to the affected eye, at a dose of one drop, three times a day, for a continuous period of 60 days. Clinical monitoring was performed biweekly to evaluate lesion regression and potential adverse effects. During the treatment period, a gradual and progressive reduction of the neoformation was observed, resulting in complete regression after 60 days. No signs of pain, ocular irritation, or immediate recurrence were recorded at the end of the follow-up. The observed clinical efficacy is attributed to the antiproliferative properties of aloe-emodin, which induces apoptosis in tumor cells, and the plant's healing capacity to promote re-epithelialization of the corneal surface. The topical use of Aloe vera gel proved to be a viable, low-cost, and effective therapeutic alternative in the management of corneal squamous cell carcinoma in dogs. This study highlights the potential of natural resources in supporting conventional oncological therapies, although it emphasizes the need for additional experimental research with larger sample sizes to consolidate efficacy and standardize safe protocols in veterinary clinical practice.