Aloin as a preclinical candidate for wound healing: evidence from fibroblast cell culture

Abstract

The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin-protective characteristics of aloin, a bioactive anthraquinone glycoside extracted from Aloe vera, have garnered significant interest. Its compatibility with dermal fibroblasts is an important prerequisite for its use in wound-healing formulations. To establish a safe in vitro concentration range for future wound-healing research, this work assessed the cytotoxic effects of aloin on primary human dermal fibroblast cells, which vary with concentration. Methods: We cultured primary human adult dermal fibroblasts (HDFa) according to standard protocols after obtaining them from ATCC. Various concentrations of aloin (10, 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 µM) were applied to the cells. The MTT colorimetric test was used to determine the cell viability. A positive cytotoxic control was used with Triton X-100, whereas untreated cells grown in DMEM served as the negative control. The statistical analyses were carried out using GraphPad Prism 10, namely one-way ANOVA and nonlinear regression analysis. Results: No concentration of aloin treatment significantly decreased fibroblast vitality compared with the control group ( P >0.05). The lack of a concentration-dependent cytotoxic response was demonstrated by nonlinear regression analysis up to 200 µM. Triton X-100, in contrast, significantly reduced cell viability, thereby demonstrating the assay's experimental validity and sensitivity. Conclusion: In vitro biocompatibility studies with primary human dermal fibroblasts showed that aloin was very safe and did not cause cytotoxicity at the concentrations considered. Based on these results, aloin appears to be a good choice for future preclinical research on skin regeneration and wound healing.