The type I procollagen and collagen-degrading MMP-1 gene expressions were compared by performing real-time RT-PCR. In the lower-dose group (n=6), the type I procollagen mRNA levels increased to 4.74±1.25 times the baseline level (p>0.05); in the higher-dose group (n=6), these levels increased 1.75±0.41 fold (p>0.05) (Fig. 1). The MMP-1 mRNA levels were nearly unchanged in the lower-dose group, with a 1.41±0.31 fold increase after aloe intake (n=6); however, in the higher-dose group, the MMP-1 mRNA transcripts were significantly (p