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Medicinal Plant details |
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| Sanskrit Name |
Ghrita kumari, Kanya (WOA, 1998). |
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| Common name in English |
Aloe Vera, Burn plant, Medicinal Aloe |
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| Botanical Name |
Aloe barbadensis Mill. |
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| Historical Accounts |
Medicinal properties of this plant have been known from 3500 years ago among Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. It has been said that Alexander the Great conquered the island of Scotra in order to obtain supplies of aloes for his soldiers wounds (botit.botany, 2004). |
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| Parts Used |
Leaves |
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| Human Medicinal Usage |
Aloe is popularly used as home remedy due to its reputation as a healing plant for burns, cuts and other skin problems. It also purify the polluted air. The clear gel extract of leaf makes an excellent treatment for wounds, burns and other skin disorders, placing a protective coat over the affected area, speeding up the rate of healing and reducing the risk of infection. It is also taken internally in the treatment of chronic constipation, poor appetite, digestive problems etc. It should not be given to pregnant women or people with hemorrhoids or irritable bowel syndrome. The plant shows analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal & antiviral activity. The plant is emmenagogue, emollient, laxative, purgative, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary (Gupta et al., 1971; Joshi, 1998; Chitra et al., 1998; Khanna, 2001). The yellow juice of the leaves contains a mixture of phenolic compounds and aloe extracts. These compounds protect the skin from radiation burns, ultraviolet rays, chronic skin and mouth ulcers, eczema etc. The gel from central pulp of the leaf has polysaccharides that seems to be soothing and anti-inflammatory. |
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| Veterinary Medicinal Usage |
In animals which do not concieve in normal course, leaf flesh extract of Aloe vera are given for 3 days followed by sprouted bengal gram seeds for 2 weeks (Anonymous, 1996).The mixture of kutikala banda (Aloe vera) and garlic ground together improves digestion in cattle (Anonymous, 1997). A mixture of 500 gm ghee kaur (Aloe vera), 500 gm camphor, 100 gm turmeric (Curcuma longa) and 100 gm til oil (Sesamum indicum) helps in the speedy healing of burn injuries/wounds in animals when applied on the affected portion (Anonymous, 2001).
Half a kilogram leaves of Adathoda vasica, one fleshy leaf of Aloe vera, two poultry eggs and 250 ml of neem oil (Azadirachta indica) are ground and given orally one day before the day of the insemination or natural crossing in dairy animals (Anonymous, 2002). Turmeric, a little tamarind fruit and Aloe vera, all ground together and mixed with polished (broken) rice for feeding chicken affected with white Diarrhoea or Ranikhetthis, helps prevent mortality in birds (Anonymous, 2002). |
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| Agriculture Usage |
To save the crop of moong from pest attack, a mixture of buttermilk, Aloe vera leaves and tobacco powder is sprayed on the crop at an interval of eight to ten days. This practice also increases productivity (Anonymous, 1997). A decoction of sothukathali (Aloe vera), neem, tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), nayuruvi (Achyranthes aspera) and Aristolochia bracteata leaves sprayed on the tomato and citrus crop prevents pest and disease attack in both the crops. It also reduces flower shedding and increases the yield in citrus. While planting coconut seedlings, bulbs of Aloe vera are planted in the same pit to keep away termites which attack the young palm . A solution madeup of one litre water and eight crushed leaves of Aloe, is sprayed on the brinjal crop to prevent rotting of fruits (Chudasama, 1999).
Aloe is used as an ingredient for herbal pesticide. Aloe vera, Vitex negundo and neem cake are applied around the trunk of the tree and covered with cowdung slurry against eriophyid mite in coconut (Samyappan, 2000).
Leaves of Custard apple (Annona squamosa), turmeric rhizome, 'peenari changu' (Clerodendrum inermi), chothukatralai (Aloe vera), nochi (Vitex negundo) and neem (Azadirachta indica) kernel are ground made into a solution and applied to the crown region of coconut palm to control eriophid mites (Samyappan, 2000). Mixture made by boiling four kg of kuvarpathu (Aloe vera), 500 ml of neem oil and 500 gm of tobacco powder and 50 gm of aritha (Sapindus emarginatus) powder is applied to control Spodoptera litura and Heliothis armigera.
Formulation from neem leaves, kuvarpathu (Aloe vera) and aakdo (Calatropis gigantea) to solve Blight in Cumin crop (Rathod, 2001).
Aloe is used in the preparation of masala bolus which after dissolving in water can be sprayed on horticultural crops to boost the setting of the fruits and enhance their taste. It also increases the resistance power of plants against pest and diseases. Ginger, chilli, nochi (Vitex negundo), garlic (Zinziber oficinalis), leaves of sotrukatralai (Aloe vera) and neem seeds are used in the preparation of herbal pesticide to control nematode infestation in turmeric crop (Anonymous, 2003). |
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| Other Usage |
The gel obtained from central pulp of the leaves is used in different cosmetic creams and moisturizers as well as shampoos.
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| Synonyms |
Aloe vera L., Aloe perfoliata L. var. vera (Shah, 1978)
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| Family |
Liliaceae
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| Description |
A perennial acaulescent herb; Stem: short thick, somewhat divided. Leaf: sessile, in rosettes, lanceolate, pale-green, fleshy, margins spiny; scape larger then the leaves, scaly, simple or branched. Flower: in 20-45 cm long dense racemes; perianth cylindric, pendulous, yellow. Fruits: trigonous -oblong, loculicidally 3-valved. Seeds: trigonous, winged. Fl. & Fr.: Dec-May (Shah, 1978, WOA, 1998). |
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| Common Name in India |
Ghi kanvar (Hindi); Chirukattali, Kattalai (Tamil); Chinna-kata banda (Telugu); Kumari (malyalam); Kuvar pathu (Gujarati) (WOA, 1998). |
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| Common Name in Other Countries |
Aloe, Aloes Des Jardins, Alwat, Barbados Aloe, Curacoa Aloe, Djadam Arab, Hsiang Tan, Jadam, L'Alois, Laloi, Lidah Buaya, Lu Hui, Musambra Aloe, No Hui, Sabila, Sarisabir, Zabida, Zabila. |
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| Habitat |
Grows in waste places, also cultivated in the gardens and near houses and temples. Found in a semi-
wild state (WOA, 1998).
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| Rainfall |
Crop shows better appearance and growth on 1-2 irrigations in hot season (WOA, 1998).
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| Soil (Physical/Chemical) |
The plant grows well in well-drained soil with a pH 7.0. Plants are tolerant of poor soils (WOA, 1998).
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| Regional Distribution |
Found throughout in India, mainly on west - central and southern India (WOA, 1998). |
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| Global Distribution |
More than 200 species of the genus Aloe occur in arid parts of the Old World, chiefly in Africa, Arabia and Indian subcontinent (WOA, 1998).
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| Harvest |
After about 8 months, the crop is ready for harvest. Plants can be removed manually. The broken rhizome parts left in the soil throws new sprouts to raise the succeeding crop in subsequent year. The plantation gives commercial yield till 5 years from second year of plantation, there after it needs replantation for economic yields.
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| Pests / Diseases |
The plant is affected by some pathogens and pests. Mealy bugs are the main pests of aloe, which appear in the form of small white spot on the plants. To control these pests, cotton plug dipped in alchohal and applied manually. They can also be controlled with non-toxic insecticidal soap. Poor drainage also causes the root rot. |
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| Chemical composition |
The plant contains 20 human required amino acids of which, 7 are essential ones. The antraquinones found in the sap are 12 anthraquinones: Aloe emodin, Aloetic Acid, Aloin, Anthracine, Antranol, Barbaloin, Chrysophanic Acid, Emodin, Ethereal Oil, Ester of Cinnamonic Acid, Isobarbaloin, Resistannol. The anthraquinone derivatives (anthrones & chromones) comprise the phenolic fraction of the sap. The primary sap component is Aloin/Barbaloin anthrone derivative. Enzymes: 8 enzymes: Aliiase, Alkaline Phosphatase, Amylase, Carboxypeptidase, Catalase, Cellulase, Lipase, Peroxidase extracted. Some hormones like Auxins & Gibberellins; lignin, cellulose based substance also found. Minerals: 9 minerals viz. Calcium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Sodium and Zinc found. Alicylic acid saponins: GlycosidesIt has 4 main plant steroids: Cholesterol, Campesterol, Lupeol, SitosterolSugars: Monosaccharides: glucose & fructose Polysaccarides: gluco-mannans /polymannose Vitamins: A, C, E, B, Choline, B12, Folic Acid Antioxidant (A, C, E).
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REFERENCES |
| SR No. |
NAME |
ARTICLE TITLE |
AUTHOR |
PLACE OF PUBLICATION |
VOLUME/ISSUE |
YEAR |
PUBLISHER |
COMMENT |
| 1 |
IJEB. |
On the influence of Aloe vera Linn. and Aloe barbadensis Mill. on the healing of wounds. |
Chitra, P, Sajithlal, GB, Chandrakasan, G. |
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36(9): 896-901. |
1998. |
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| 2 |
JRIM. |
A study of antifertility effects of some indigenous drugs. |
Gupta, ML, Gupta, TK, Bhargava, KP. |
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6(2): 112-117. |
1971 |
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| 3 |
J Med Arom Plant Sci. |
Chemical constituents and biological activity of Aloe barbadensis - A review. |
Joshi, SP. |
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20(3): 768-773. |
1998 |
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| 4 |
Sachitra Ayurved. |
Ghrtakumari. |
Khanna, JP. |
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54(4): 255-256. |
2001 |
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| 5 |
University Press |
Flora of Gujarat State |
Shah, GL. |
Vallabha-Vidyanagar. |
2 Vol. |
1978 |
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| 6 |
WOA |
The Wealth of Asia |
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New Delhi |
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1998 |
National Institute of Science Communication, CSIR |
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