Aloe vera, also known as the true aloe or medicinal aloe, is a species of succulent plant that probably originated in the southern half of the Arabian peninsula, Northern Africa, the Canary islands and Cape verde.
Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa, India and other arid areas.The species is frequently cited as being used inherbal medicine.
Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 60–100 cm (24–39 in) tall, spreading by offsets.
The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on the upper and lower stem surfaces.
The margin of the leaf is serrated and has small white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on a spike up to 90 cm (35 in) tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long.
Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhoeza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.
BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS:
Aloe vera leaves contain a range of biologically active compounds, the best studied being acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones and anthraquinones and various lectins.
Scientific evidence for the cosmetic and therapeutic effectiveness of Aloe vera is limited and when present is frequently contradictory.
Despite this, the cosmetic and alternative medicine industries regularly make claims regarding the soothing, moisturising and healing properties of Aloe vera, especially via Internet advertising.
- Aloe vera gel is used as an ingredient in commercially available lotion, yogurt, beverages and some desserts.
- Aloe vera gel is used for consumption and relief of digestive issues such as heart burn and irritable bowel syndrome.
- It is common practice for cosmetic companies to add sap or other derivatives from Aloe vera to products such asmake up, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, incense, razors and shampoos.
- Other uses for extracts of Aloe vera include the dilution of semen for the artificial fertilization of sheep, use as fresh food preservative, and use in water conservation in small farms.
- Aloe vera has a long association with herbal medicine, although it is not known when its medical applications were first discovered. Aloe vera is non-toxic, with no known side effects, provided the aloin has been removed by processing. Taking Aloe vera that contains aloin in excess amounts has been associated with various side effects. However, the species is used widely in the traditional herbal medicine of China, Japan, Russia, South Africa, the United States, Jamaica and India. Aloe vera is alleged to be effective in treatment of wounds.
- Evidence on the effects of Aloe vera sap on wound healing, however, is limited and contradictory.
- Some studies, for example, show that Aloe vera promotes the rates of healing, while in contrast, other studies show that wounds to which Aloe vera gel was applied were significantly slower to heal than those treated with conventional medical preparations.
- A more recent review (2007) concludes that the cumulative evidence supports the use of Aloe vera for the healing of first to second degree burns.
- In addition to topical use in wound or burn healing, internal intake of Aloe vera has been linked with improved blood glucose levels in diabetes , and with lower blood lipids in hyper lipidaemic patients, but also with acute hepatitis (liver disease).
- In other diseases, preliminary studies have suggested oral Aloe vera gel may reduce symptoms and inflammation in patients .
- Compounds extracted from Aloe vera have been used as an immunostimulant that aids in fighting cancers in cats and dogs; however, this treatment has not been scientifically tested in humans.
- The injection of Aloe vera extracts to treat cancer has resulted in the deaths of several patients.
- Topical application of Aloe vera may be effective for genital herpes and psoriasis.
- However, it is not effective for the prevention of radiation-induced injuries.
- Although anecdotally useful, it has not been proven to offer protection from sunburn or suntan.
- In a double-blind clinical trial both the group using an Aloe vera containing dentifriece and the group using a fluoridated dentifrice had a reduction of gingivitis and plaque but no statistically significant difference was found between the two.
- Aloe vera extracts have antibacterial and antifungal activities, which may help in the treatment of minor skin infections, such as benign skin cysts.
- Aloe vera extracts have been shown to inhibit the growth of fungi that cause tinea; however, evidence for control beneath human skin remains to be established.
- For its anti-fungal properties, Aloe vera is used as a fish tank water conditioner.
- For bacteria, inner-leaf gel from Aloe vera was shown to inhibit growth of Streptococcus and Shigella species in vitro. In contrast, Aloe vera extracts failed to show antibiotic properties against Xanthomonas species.
- Aloe vera used to heal skin wounds, burn and Helps in speeding recovery time after surgery.
- Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing insect bites, rashes, sores, herpes, urticaria, fungal infection, vaginal infections, conjunctivitis, allergic reactions.
- Aloe gels are applied on dry skins to give them glowing effect, reducing acne, reduce sunburn, screening out x-ray radiation.
- Aloe vera helps to fight frostbite and shingles, reduce psoriasis, reduce rosacea, reduce warts and reduce ageing, reduce wrinkles and also it reduce the eczema.
- Seeing so many medicinal uses of Aloe vera plant it is pretty easy to say that Aloe vera is of great importance in our lives and solves great purpose in medical field as well. Apart from above mentioned medicinal uses of Aloe vera there are other more important points to be noted about Aloe vera plant which are of more importance and critical issues:
SIDE EFFECTS BY USING ALOE VERA:
Sometimes internal use of Aloe Vera latex may turn urine red, can cause abdominal pain, and cramps the major reason of this is consuming products having anthraquinones as one of the ingredients.Sometimes it is seen that some people show mild allergic reaction, developing itching or rash conditions.
Sometimes Aloe vera juice contains small quantity of laxative compound in aloe latex due to improper processing. Latex shows laxative effects and overuse of latex can cause electrolyte imbalances.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/medicinal-value-of-aloe-vera-3596754.html
About the Author
1. Project on ‘\'JATROPHA CULTIVATION, THE FUTURE PROSPECTIVE OF BIODIESEL- A CASE STUDY IN RASGOVINDPUR BLOCK OF MAYURBHANJ DISTRICT\'\' at North Orissa University in 2008.
2. Project on ‘\'ENUMERATION OF SIX MAJOR GROUPS OF BACTERIA FROM MANGROOVE SOILS OF BHITARKANIKA‘\'at North Orissa University in 2009.
- Seminar on ‘BIOFUEL THE NEXT REVOLUTION\'at North Orissa University in 2008.
- Seminar on ‘BIOETHANOL FROM AGRICULTURAL RAW MATERIALS\' at Fakir Mohan University in 2009.
- Seminar on ‘PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ACALYPHA FRUCTICOSA \' at Fakir Mohan University in 2010.
- Training on MOLECULARBIOLOGY and MICROBIOLOGY At BIOTECHNOTRICK (bcil) in 2008.
- Training on MOLECULARBIOLOGY and PLANT TISSUE CULTURE at O.U.A.T. in 2009.
- Training on DRUGS ANALYSIS at BIOLAB in 2010.
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