What is Acemannan? Do you know? Most people have never heard of acemannan, nor would they associate it with the healing-herb aloe vera. Acemannan is a D-isomer mucopolysaccharide found in the inner leaf gel of the aloe vera plant. This compound is an immunostimulant, antiviral, antineoplastic, and has gastrointestinal properties. Acemannan (the name often used for aloe beta-glucomannans, acetylated polymannans, and mucopolysaccharides) is a long chain sugar that interjects itself into all cell membranes, resulting in an increase in the fluidity and permeability of the membranes allowing toxins to flow out of the cell more easily and nutrients to enter the cell more easily. This result is better cellular metabolism throughout the body and an overall increase in energy production.
Because of its immense size, oral Acemannan must be broken down into smaller pieces to facilitate absorption through the digestive tract. Early studies have suggested that β-linked polysaccharides could not be broken down into usable pieces by the cells lining the gut. However, we now understand that probiotics (friendly microorganisms in the gut) can digest β-linked polysaccharides, and specifically, they can digest Acemannan. Animal studies have shown that oral Acemannan gets into the blood within 90 minutes. Studies have shown that the epithelial cells lining the digestive tract have mannose-specific receptors for the active uptake of mannose from the digestive tract and transporting it to the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, the majority of Acemannan is distributed primarily to the liver, followed by the spleen, brain, kidney, heart, pancreas, and thymus.
The polysaccharides in aloe act as strong anti-inflammatory agents at the gastrointestinal level, neutralizing many enzymes responsible for damaging the mucosal wall, resulting in decreased leakiness of the intestinal wall and less absorption of allergic stimulating foreign protein as well as enhancing the repair of the tissue. Research also demonstrates direct viricidal, bactericidal, and fungicidal properties, which can help control Candida overgrowth, so the normal gastrointestinal bacterial flora is restored. It has also been found that these polysaccharides stimulate intestinal motility, improving the elimination process to move allergenic proteins from the small intestine into the colon. All these processes can help normalize the gastrointestinal wall structure and function and stop the vicious cycle of immune system damage.
What is Acemannan – The Wound Hormone
When answering the question – What is acemannan? – it’s crucial to discuss acemannan’s ability as a wound healer. The Ukrainians are credited with preliminary research concerning a “wound hormone” found in specific plant tissues. They observed that this plant hormone accelerated the healing of injured plant surfaces. Using skin lesion models in rats and rabbits, they observed that this plant “wound hormone” had the same effect in mammals. Testing was done by injection and topical application. The topical application was much more rapid and complete resulting in a systemic response and accelerated healing. Additional research found that Aloe vera gel was a safe and effective source of the “wound hormone,” which was later identified as acemannan.
It is the Aloe inner leaf gel that is known to stimulate and accelerate wound healing processes. However, many aloe-based wound products currently on the market fail to produce the desired effect due to the absence of acemannan.
Many Health Benefits of Acemannan
Following are a few of the crucial functions of Acemannan and other constituents of aloe vera.
- Helps cells to be more resistant to viruses and pathogenic bacteria.
- Improves overall cellular metabolism and functioning.
- Promotes a healthy inflammation response.
- Provides critical lubrication of joints.
- Aids in the absorption of water, minerals, and nutrients in the GI tract.
- Reduces pain.
- Improves vascular flow.
- Reduces scarring.
- Improves healthy macrophage activity.
- Enhances macrophage effectiveness in modulating the entire immune system.
- Enhances macrophage effectiveness in stimulating, producing, and releasing antibodies.
- Increases the body’s production of interferon interleukins.
- Increase the number of antibody-forming T-cells in the spleen.
- Increases the number and activity of killer T-cells and increases monocyte activity.
- Fights fungal infections, such as Athlete’s foot, Ringworm, Pruritus anivalvae, Balnea, Essential Pruritus, and Vaginal yeast infections/
- Helps with athletic injuries such as Muscle cramps, Sprains, Strains, Bruises, Swelling, Soreness, Tendonitis, and Bursitis.
- Soothes and promotes healing of intestinal disorders such as Indigestion, Heartburn, Hyper-acidity, Peptic and Duodenal Ulcers, Colitis, and Hemorrhoids.
- Promotes healthy kidney function.
- Helps with diabetes.
- Helps with harmful organisms.
- Speeds wound healing.
- Reduces allergic reactions.
- Stimulates bone marrow activity.
- Anti-aging properties. Stimulate fibroblasts to release collagen and elastin to make new tissue.
- Supports healthy blood pressure.
In the past, the main concern with aloe vera products was that the key active ingredients, the mannan sugars, were not particularly concentrated in the aloe plant and were not particularly stable. In addition, they are easily destroyed both in the harvesting process and in the concentration process. Only in the last few years have these limitations been overcome and allowed aloe vera with meaningful amounts of mannan sugars to be produced. Currently, a brand new proprietary process has been discovered that allows for the dehydration and concentration of aloe at low temperatures (never exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit). This is significant since it preserves the integrity of the mannan sugars – not to mention the enzyme activity of the aloe constituents. This process produces a product containing all of the complex carbohydrates in the whole aloe leaf at powerfully high levels of concentration.
I highly recommend reading THE SCIENCE BEHIND ALOE: The Healing Plant co-authored by Dr. Bill McAnalley copyright 2009. This book will definitely increase consumers’ knowledge about the aloe plant and acemannan.
References
- Therapeutic Uses of Aloe. http://books.google.com/books?id=CMJKgfhCKzIC&pg=PA152&lpg=PA152&dq=Acemannan+Immunostimulant+mucopolysaccharide&source=bl&ots=PIVUgt8mXa&sig=1r0cXllnr9puGN7l6qY1B0xO-7A#PPA152,M1
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- Tanaka M, Misawa E, Yamauchi K, Abe F, Ishizaki C. Effects of plant sterols derived from Aloe vera gel on human dermal fibroblasts in vitro and on skin condition in Japanese women. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015 Feb 20;8:95-104. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S75441. eCollection 2015.
- Foster M, Hunter D, Samman S. Evaluation of the Nutritional and Metabolic Effects of Aloe vera. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 3. Available.
- Jettanacheawchankit S1, Sasithanasate S, Sangvanich P, Banlunara W, Thunyakitpisal P. Acemannan stimulates gingival fibroblast proliferation; expressions of keratinocyte growth factor-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, and type I collagen; and wound healing. J Pharmacol Sci. 2009 Apr;109(4):525-31.
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†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician of choice.