A material-basis study of Aloe vera on the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway using a knockin/knockout method with high-speed countercurrent chromatography

Aloe vera has been widely used in cosmetics and as a health product. Although increasing research has indicated that chronic use of Aloe vera is closely associated with the development of colorectal cancer, the material basis and molecular mechanism of the pathogenesis have not been elucidated. The wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in the development of colorectal cancer. It should be useful to investigate whether Aloe vera has any impact on the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In this study, we found that a water extract of Aloe vera at low concentration (0.98–12.50 μg ml−1) could activate the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the presence of wnt3a ligand and up-regulated the level of active β-catenin protein in hek293 cells, as well as promoting the expression of wnt target genes (Axin2, DKK1, FGF20). Additionally, aloin and aloesin were the effective components interacting with other non-active ingredients in the water extract of Aloe vera that were identified by a knockout/knockin method with high-speed counter current chromatography (HSCCC). Meanwhile, no effects of the water extract of Aloe vera and aloin on the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were found, either in the presence or absence of other activators such as activator CHIR99021. In conclusion, the water extract of Aloe vera could activate the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the presence of wnt3a and the effective components were aloin and aloesin. These findings might facilitate the understanding of the material basis and molecular mechanisms of Aloe vera in causing colorectal cancer.