Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. enhances caudal fin regeneration in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Published
May 18, 2026
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Lloyd O. Balinado
Ma. Veronica P. Peñaflorida
Arvie Grace B. Masibag
Abstract
Zebrafish are widely recognized for their ability to completely regrow their caudal fins following an amputation injury. This makes them an ideal model organism for investigating the wound-healing potential of various medicinal plants. In this study, the regenerative effect of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. extracts on the amputated caudal fins of zebrafish was evaluated using three extract concentrations (i.e., 0.3%, 0.6%, and 1.2%) applied per 1.3 L of water in the tank. Results showed that A. vera extracts contributed to the survivability of wounded zebrafish and the regeneration of their caudal fins compared with untreated wounded zebrafish. Among the extract concentrations applied, 0.6% yielded a regeneration rate of 0.19 mm/day and an endpoint caudal fin regeneration percentage of 99.17% within 14 days of application, with no recorded mortality. The results suggest that A. vera is a promising candidate for wound healing and the regeneration of damaged tissues in zebrafish. Furthermore, it indicates its potential use by fish pet owners and businesses as an alternative to commercial fish wound-healing products.
How to Cite
Nieva, M. J. M., Mendoza, J. P., Flormata, C. Z. S., Balinado, L. O., Peñaflorida M. V. P., & Masibag, A. G. B. (2026). Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. enhances caudal fin regeneration in zebrafish (Danio rerio). The Palawan Scientist, 18(1), 207–215. https://doi.org/10.69721/TPS.J.2026.18.1.21
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Keywords
medicinal plants, tissue regeneration, survivability, wound-healing
References
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Subramanian S, Sathish Kumar D, Arulsevan P. 2006. Wound healing potential of Aloe vera leaf gel studied in experimental rabbits. Asian Journal of Biochemistry. 1:178-185. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajb.2006.178.185
Surjushe A, Vasani R, Saple D. 2008. Aloe vera: A short review. Indian Journal of Dermatology. 53(4):163. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5154.44785
Wallace C, Bright L, Marx J, Andersen R, Mullins M, Carty A. 2018. Effectiveness of rapid cooling as a method of euthanasia for young zebrafish (Danio rerio). Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. 57(1): 58–63.
Ayisi C, Osei S, Mensah G, Asemah C. 2025. Understanding the application of plant extracts in wound healing of fish: A comprehensive review. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries. 5(2):e70057. https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.70057
Brand R. 2014. Zebra danio: The care, feeding and breeding of zebra danio fish. Aquarium Tidings. [accessed 2025 Jul 5]. https://aquariumtidings.com/zebra-danio-care/.
Chokoto L, Hasselt E. 2005. The use of tannins in the local treatment of burn wounds - a pilot study. Malawi Medical Journal. 17(1):19-20. https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v17i1.10866
Dhanasiri A, Fernandes J, Kiron V. 2013. Acclimation of zebrafish to transport stress. Zebrafish. 10(1):87-98. https://doi.org/10.1089/zeb.2012.0843
Haney M, Wimsett M, Liu C, Blackburn J. 2021. Protocol for rapid assessment of the efficacy of novel Wnt inhibitors using zebrafish models. STAR Protocols. 2(2):100433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100433
Hekmatpou D, Mehrabi F, Rahzani K, Aminiyan A. 2019. The effect of Aloe vera clinical trials on prevention and healing of skin wounds: A systematic review. Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences. 44(1):1–9.
Jadhav A, Patil O, Kadam S, Bhutkar M. 2020. Review on Aloe vera is used in medicinal plant. Asian Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 10(1):26-30. https://doi.org/10.5958/2231-5659.2020.00006.5
Jorge S, Felix L, Costas B, Valentim A. 2023. Housing conditions affect adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) behavior but not their physiological status. Animals. 13(6):1120. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13061120
Kalueff A, Gebhardt M, Stewart A, Cachat J, Brimmer M, Chawla J, Craddock C, Kyzar EJ, Roth A, Landsman S, and others. 2013. Towards a comprehensive catalog of zebrafish behavior 1.0 and beyond. Zebrafish. 10(1):70-86. https://doi.org/10.1089/zeb.2012.0861
Khanal M, Lamichhane S, Bhattari A, Kayastha B, Labh S. 2012. Extract of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) enhances the growth, protein contents, and gastrosomatic index (GaSI) of common carp Cyprinus carpio. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. 4(1):8029413. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8029413
Lawrence C, Mason T. 2012. Zebrafish housing systems: A review of basic operating principles and considerations for design and functionality. Institute for Laboratory Animal Research Journal. 53(2):171-191. https://doi.org/10.1093/ilar.53.2.179
Liu G, Liu S, Xie Y, Leng D, Li G. 2020. The analysis of biomimetic caudal fin propulsion mechanism with CFD. Applied Bionics and Biomechanics. 2020:7839049. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7839049
Pelletier M, Ebersole J, Mulvaney K, Rashleigh B, Gutierrez M, Chintala M, Kuhn A, Molina M, Bagley M, Lane C. 2020. Resilience of aquatic systems: Review and management implications. Aquatic Science. 82:44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-020-00717-z
Sayhan H, Beyaz S, Çeliktaş A. 2017. The local anesthetic and pain relief activity of alkaloids. In: Georgiev V and Pavlov A (eds). Alkaloids - Alternatives in Synthesis, Modification and Application. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69847
Sehring I, Weidinger G. 2020. Recent advancements in understanding fin regeneration in zebrafish. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Developmental Biology. 9(1):e367. https://doi.org/10.1002/wdev.367
Shao J, Chen D, Ye Q, Cui J, Li Y, Li L. 2011. Tissue regeneration after injury in adult zebrafish: The regenerative potential of the caudal fin. Developmental Dynamics. 240(5):1271-1277. https://doi.org/10.1002/dvdy.22603
Sharpe S. 2024. Determining how much to feed aquarium fish. The Spruce Pets. [accessed 2025 Jul 5]. https://www.thesprucepets.com/how-much-should-i-feed-my-fish-1378746.
Shoemaker S. 2019. How to make Aloe vera gel. Healthline. [accessed 2025 Jan 05]. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-make-aloe-vera-gel.
Soni V, Pandey V, Asati S, Jain P, Tekade RK. 2019. Design and Fabrication of Brain-Targeted Drug Delivery. In: Basic Fundamentals of Drug Delivery. Elsevier. p. 539–593. [accessed 2026 May 12]. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/B9780128179093000145.
Subramanian S, Sathish Kumar D, Arulsevan P. 2006. Wound healing potential of Aloe vera leaf gel studied in experimental rabbits. Asian Journal of Biochemistry. 1:178-185. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajb.2006.178.185
Surjushe A, Vasani R, Saple D. 2008. Aloe vera: A short review. Indian Journal of Dermatology. 53(4):163. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5154.44785
Wallace C, Bright L, Marx J, Andersen R, Mullins M, Carty A. 2018. Effectiveness of rapid cooling as a method of euthanasia for young zebrafish (Danio rerio). Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. 57(1): 58–63.
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