Aloe vera

ANTHROPOGENIC USES

As a food, A. vera is very bitter and unpalatable. A. vera gel, however, is used as an ingredient in commercially available yogurt, beverages and some desserts. It is common practice for cosmetic companies to add sap or other derivatives from A. vera to products such as makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, incense, razors and shampoos. It has also been suggested that biofuels could be obtained from A. vera seeds. Other uses for extracts of A. vera include the dilution of semen for the artificial fertilisation of sheep, use as fresh food preservative, and use in water conservation in small farms.

Aloe vera

Halts the growth of cancer tumors

Lowers high cholesterol

Repairs "sludge blood" and reverses "sticky blood"

Boosts the oxygenation of your blood

Eases inflammation and soothes arthritis pain

Protects the body from oxidative stress

Prevents kidney stones and protects the body from oxalates in coffee and tea

Alkalizes the body, helping to balance overly acidic dietary habits

Cures ulcers, IBS, Crohn's disease and other digestive disorders

Reduces high blood pressure natural, by treating the cause, not just the symptoms

Nourishes the body with minerals, vitamins, enzymes and glyconutrients

Accelerates healing from physical burns and radiation burns

Replaces dozens of first aid products, makes bandages and antibacterial sprays obsolete

Halts colon cancer, heals the intestines and lubricates the digestive tract

Ends constipation

Stabilizes blood sugar and reduces triglycerides in diabetics

Prevents and treats candida infections

Protects the kidneys from disease

Functions as nature's own "sports drink" for electrolyte balance, making common sports drinks obsolete

Boosts cardiovascular performance and physical endurance

Speeds recovery from injury or physical exertion.

Hydrates the skin, accelerates skin repair

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is a common houseplant that is known for its healing abilities. The benefits range from soothing skin to helping internal problems. Aloe vera that comes directly from the plant can be used or the substance can be processed into other types of aloe vera products.

Sometimes it is used as an additive in other products sure to its healing and beneficial factors. Aloe vera is a good healing substance because it contains all the vitamins, except D, that people need on a daily basis. It also contains enzymes, minerals, anti-microbial, amino acids and sugars that are all beneficial to the human body.

These ingredients are used to aid digestion, reduce inflammation, cleanse and sooth the body.The main benefits that have been proven in medical studies are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and restoration. Other on going studies suggest that it is also beneficial to the heart and can destroy strong bacteria. Aloe soothes and helps repair skin that has been damaged or that is suffering from a skin condition like eczema. Many cosmetics contain aloe because of its moisturizing benefits. Aloe vera can also be made into a juice where it is used to aid in digestion, ease muscular conditions and allergies.

Some of the Main Uses of Aloe Vera are:

Aloe vera is very commonly used for its antibacterial, anesthetic and antiseptic properties, and is good to use as a tool for restoration of tissue.

When Aloe vera is used cosmetically, its helps in softening the skin.

When Aloe vera is applied externally, it restores skin tissues and is very good in treating burns, minor cuts and sores.

It is also used as a beauty aid for the skin.

Aloe vera is especially good in healing sunburns, although it is being used for the treatment of skin cancer.

It can also be used on blemishes and dandruff.

Traditionally it has been known to influence digestion.

Other traditional uses have been in treating stomach disorders, diabetes , scrapes, ulcers , arthritis and constipation, arteriosclerosis, amenorrhea , or suppressed menses, menstrual complaints, infections, herpes simplex viruses and skin diseases.

Aloe vera

PRE-CLINICAL DATA
Pharmacology
Pharmacology and Human Studies:

Burns

Aloe gel, made from the central part of the Aloe leaf, is a common household remedy for minor cuts and burns as well as sunburns. It can be found in many commercial skin lotions and cosmetics. Aloe contains active compounds that stop pain and inflammation and stimulate skin growth and repair. For this reason, Aloe vera gel has gained tremendous popularity for relief of burns, with individual success in helping minor burns.

Herpes and Skin Conditions

Preliminary evidence also suggests that aloe gel may improve symptoms of genital herpes and certain skin conditions such as psoriasis.
Limited evidence from human studies suggests that 0.5% extract from Aloe vera in a hydrophilic cream may be an effective treatment of genital herpes in men (better than aloe gel or placebo).

Psoriasis vulgaris

Evidence from one human trial suggests that 0.5% extract from Aloe in a hydrophilic cream is an effective treatment of psoriasis vulgaris (6). However, the effect of a commercial Aloe vera gel on stable plaque psoriasis was modest and not better than placebo on a double-blind, placebo-controlled study done by Paulsen et al. 2005 .

Constipation

Aloe vera gel is often confused with another part of the Aloe plant known as aloe juice, but the two substances are quite different. Aloe juice (also known as aloe latex or aloe sap) is a yellow, bitter liquid derived from the outer layer of the Aloe leaf. It contains substances that, when taken by mouth, have very strong laxative effects. For example, in a study of 35 men and women with constipation, those who received capsules containing aloe latex, and other laxatives including psyllium (a natural substance high in fiber) experienced softer and more frequent stools compared to those who received placebo.

Dried latex from the inner lining of aloe leaves has been used traditionally as a laxative taken by mouth. Although few studies have been conducted to assess this effect of A.vera in humans, the laxative properties of aloe components such as aloin are well supported by scientific evidence.

Diabetes

Preliminary studies suggest that aloe juice may help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It seems possible that the herb may prove to be a useful addition to the diet, exercise, and medication program for type 2 diabetics.

Laboratory studies show that Aloe can stimulate insulin release from the pancreas and can lower blood glucose levels in mice. Results from two poorly conducted human trials suggest that oral aloe gel may be effective in lowering blood glucose levels, although a third, smaller study found no effect. More research is needed to explore the effectiveness and safety of aloe in diabetics (1).

Aloe vera gel and phytosterols derived from Aloe vera gel are suggested to have a long-term blood glucose level control effect and would be useful for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

HIV infection

Acemannan, a component of aloe gel, has been shown in laboratory tests to have immune-stimulating and anti-viral activities. Results from early human studies are mixed, and due to weaknesses in the way these studies were designed, firm conclusions are not possible. Without further human trials, the evidence cannot be considered convincing either in favor or against this use of Aloe .

Cancer prevention

Aloe-emodin (AE), a hydroxyanthraquinone present in Aloe vera leaves, has a specific in vitro and in vivo antineuroectodermal tumor activity .

Canker sores (aphthous stomatitis)

There is weak evidence from one study that treatment of recurrent aphthous ulcers of the mouth with aloe gel may reduce pain and increase the amount of time between the appearances of new ulcers.

Ulcerative colitis

There is limited but promising research of the use of oral Aloe vera in ulcerative colitis, compared to placebo. It is not clear how Aloe vera compares to other treatments used for ulcerative colitis

Wound healing

Effects of Aloe on wound healing are mixed. Some studies reported positive results while others showed no benefit or potential worsening of the condition.

Mucositis

There is preliminary evidence from a human trial that oral Aloe vera does not prevent or improve mucositis (mouth sores) associated with radiation therapy.

Pressure ulcers

No benefit was found on topical acemannan hydrogel (a component of aloe gel) in the treatment of pressure ulcers.

Radiation dermatitis

Reports in the 1930s of topical aloe's beneficial effects on skin after radiation exposure lead to widespread use in skin products. Currently, aloe gel is sometimes recommended for radiation-induced dermatitis, although scientific evidence suggests a lack of benefit in this area .

Antioxidant activity

The Aloe vera extract showed significant antioxidant activity which is significantly higher than that of BHT and alpha-tocopherol .

Aloe vera

CLINICAL DATA

Wound healing

One non-randomised, un-blinded study assessed wound healing with polyethylene oxide wound gel or polyethylene oxide wound gel saturated with Aloe vera in 17 patients with acne vulgaris. Half-face treatments were carried out so that each patient received both treatments. By day 5, 90% of wounds were healed (complete re-epithelialisation) with Aloe vera compared with 40-50% without Aloe vera. Wound healing was 72 hours faster with Aloe vera .

One randomised, un-blinded trial assessed wound healing with standard wound care with or without Aloe vera dermal gel every 8-12 hours in 40 women after gynaecological surgery. All women had complications of wound healing after surgery. Details of the standard treatment were not provided and 50% of the women did not complete the trial. Mean healing time (to completely epithelised wound) was significantly longer with Aloe vera (83 days) than with standard treatment (53 days) .

Psoriasis

One randomised, double-blind trial assessed a topical 0.5% hydrophilic Aloe vera cream compared with placebo cream in 60 patients with mild to moderate chronic plaque-type psoriasis over four weeks. Patients were followed-up for 12 months. The rate of cure was significantly better with Aloe vera (83%) than with placebo (7%) with no relapses .

Radiation-induced skin injury

Two randomised trials assessed the effects of Aloe vera in women with radiation-induced skin injury associated with treatment for breast cancer. One trial was double -blind (194 patients) and found no significant difference in severity score between topical Aloe vera gel and placebo .

The other trial (108 patients) assessed usual care with or without topical Aloe vera gel; there was no significant difference between study treatments .

Genital herpes

Two randomised, double-blind trials compared topical Aloe vera cream (0.5% hydrophilic) or placebo three times daily for two weeks in 180 men with a first episode of genital herpes; one also assessed topical Aloe vera gel. Response rates in the two trials were almost identical. The proportions of patients cured in the two trials were 70% and 67% with Aloe vera cream, 45% with Aloe vera gel, and 7.5% and 7.0% with placebo. Aloe vera cream healing times were 4.8 and 4.9 day, 7.0 days with Aloe vera gel, and 14 and 12 days with placebo

Diabetes mellitus

There were 58 controlled clinical trials involving individuals with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (42 randomized and 16 non-randomized trials). Of these 58 trials, the direction of the evidence for improved glucose control was positive in 76% (44 of 58). Very few adverse effects were reported.

Aloe vera

TOXICITIES

Ingestion of Aloe vera is associated with diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance, kidney dysfunction, and episodes of contact dermatitis, erythema, and phototoxicity have been reported from topical applications .

The anthraquinones aloe-emodin, emodin and rhein were found to be phototoxic in vitro. The probable mechanism may be through the involvement of singlet oxygen and stable photoproducts . Aloe emodin was also found to generate singlet oxygen when irradiated with UV light and this photochemical mechanism is the most likely pathway responsible for the phototoxicity of Aloe emodin .

The use of A.vera on surgical wounds has been reported to slow healing and, in one case, to cause redness and burning after aloe juice was applied to the face after a skin-peeling procedure (dermabrasion).

Application of A.vera prior to sun exposure may lead to rash in sun-exposed areas .

The use of Aloe or Aloe latex by mouth for laxative effects can cause cramping or diarrhea. Use for over seven days may cause dependency or worsening of constipation after the aloe is stopped. Ingestion of aloe for over one year has been reported to increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Individuals with severe abdominal pain, appendicitis, ileus (temporary paralysis of the bowel), or a prolonged period without bowel movements should not take aloe. There is a report of hepatitis (liver inflammation) with the use of oral aloe .

Electrolyte imbalances in the blood, including low potassium levels, may be caused by the laxative effect of aloe. This effect may be greater in people with diabetes or kidney disease. Low potassium levels can lead to abnormal heart rhythms or muscle weakness. People with heart disease, kidney disease, or electrolyte abnormalities should not take aloe by mouth. Healthcare professionals should monitor for changes in potassium and other electrolytes in individuals who take aloe by mouth for more than a few days.

Based on a small number of human studies, aloe taken by mouth may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised in patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia, and in those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugar. Serum glucose levels may need to be monitored by a healthcare professional, and medication adjustments may be necessary.

Aloe vera

DOSAGE

Adults (18 years and older)

Topical (on the skin):

General use: Pure Aloe vera gel is often used liberally on the skin. There are no reports that topical use of aloe causes absorption of chemicals into the body that lead to significant adverse effects. Skin products are available that contain aloe alone or aloe combined with other active ingredients.

Genital herpes: Hydrophilic cream of 0.5% (by weight) of a 50% ethanol extract, combined with liquid paraffin and castor oil, three times daily on lesions for five consecutive days per week, for up to two weeks has been studied .

Psoriasis vulgaris: Hydrophilic cream of 0.5% (by weight) of a 50% ethanol extract of aloe, combined with mineral and castor oils, three times daily for five consecutive days per week, for up to four weeks has been studied .

Oral (by mouth):

Constipation: The dose often recommended is the minimum amount to maintain a soft stool, typically 0.04-0.17 g of dried juice (corresponds to 10-30 mg hydroxyanthraquinones). As an alternative, in combination with celandin (300 mg) and psyllium (50 mg), 150 mg of the dried juice/day of aloe has been found effective as a laxative in research

Diabetes (type 2): Aloe juice (5-15mL) twice daily has been used but safety and efficacy of this dose has not been proven.

HIV infection: Acemannan (1000 mg-1600 mg) orally in four equal doses. Effectiveness and safety have not been proven by studies.

Children (younger than 18 years)

Topical (on the skin):

Topical use of aloe gel in children is common and appears to be well tolerated.

Dosage for Different Types of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera comes in a number of forms: natural gel, powdered form, prepared ointment, salve or lotion and fluid extract.

When intaking a powder of Aloe, 1-5 gram dosage is recommended.

In a fluid extract, anywhere from 5-30 drops is what is taken.

Aloe Vera Eye Wash - To create an eye wash from Aloe, use 1/2 tsp. of Aloe juice and dissolve it in 1 cup of water. A 1/2 teaspoon of Boric Acid may be added to preserve it.

Aloe Vera Poultice - A poultice of Aloe can be made by slicing a leaf lengthwise and pressing the gelled side toward the cut or burn, and then wrapping.

Dosage for Diseases

For constipation, a single 50-200 mg capsule of aloe latex can be taken each day for a maximum of ten days.

For minor burns, the stabilized aloe gel is applied topically to the affected area of skin three to five times per day. Treatment of more serious burns should only be done under the supervision of a renowned healthcare professional.

However, the most common way to utilize the healing powers of Aloe is to rub the gelled juice from inside the leaves onto the affected area.

Aloe vera

USED IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Although topical use of A.vera is unlikely to be harmful during pregnancy or breastfeeding, oral use is not recommended due to theoretical stimulation of uterine contractions that can trigger miscarriage. It is not known whether active ingredients of aloe may be present in breast milk. The dried juice of aloe leaves should not be consumed by breastfeeding mothers. Nursing mothers should not take aloe latex either because the effects and safety for infants and children are not known .

Age Limitations:

Neonates/Adolescents

Aloe taken orally should not be prescribed to children under 12 years of age. Caution is advised in patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia or kidney disease. However, topical use is common and tolerated.


Geriatrics

Caution is advised in patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia or kidney disease.

INTERACTION WITH DRUGS

Aloe appeared to interact with the general anesthetic sevoflurane . A preliminary study involving 18 people found that Aloe vera increased the absorption of vitamins C and E . Aloe latex will decrease the effectiveness of any medication taken at the same time, as it is a laxative, and will cause any ingested medication to move through the digestive system too quickly to be effective.

Anti-diabetic Medications

The combination of Aloe vera and glyburide, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, may help control blood sugar and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood . People with diabetes who use aloe latex either alone or in combination with other medications must be monitored closely by health care providers to avoid potential complications from low blood sugar levels.

Anticancer Medications

Taken together, the herbal anthraquinone aloe-emodin can downregulate the anticancer activity of cisplatin by blocking the activation of ERK in tumor cells .

Hydrocortisone

Aloe gel may enhance the ability of hydrocortisone to reduce swelling

Digoxin and Diuretics

Because oral aloe can decrease levels of potassium, aloe latex should not be used by individuals taking diuretics or digoxin (a medication used to treat irregular heart rhythms and congestive heart failure). These medications lower potassium levels in the body, so a combination of aloe and digoxin or diuretics can result in dangerously low levels of this important mineral .

INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER HERBS / HERBAL CONSTITUENTS

Low levels of potassium (due to oral aloe) could interfere with cardiac glycosides as well as affect other antiarrhythmic agents. Potassium deficiency can be exacerbated by simultaneous applications of thiazide diuretics, cortico-adrenal steroids or licorice root

CONTRAINDICATIONS

People with known allergy to garlic, onions, tulips, or other plants of the Liliaceae family may have allergic reactions to aloe

Aloe is contraindicated (in individuals with) hemorrhoids, heart conditions, and kidney disorders. Likely unsafe for use during pregnancy because aloe can induce abortions and stimulate menstruation. Aloe is contraindicated when menstruating, due to possible stimulation of endometrial activity.

Aloe latex should not be taken internally if the following drugs are also taken: digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics, steroids, drugs for irregular heartbeat, and drugs that cause potassium loss

Aloe taken orally may cause blood sugar levels to become too low, especially if combined with blood sugar medications

SIDE EFFECTS

The side effects A. vera are normally minor and for a person not on medication or suffering from a medical condition should be able to use Aloe vera without problems. However, it is advisable before using anything for a medical purpose to know the side effects. The following are the side effects one can experience when using Aloe vera:

- electrolyte loss

- can delay healing of major wounds

- can color urine pink when taken internally

- fluid imbalance

- intestinal cramps

Most of these side effects only occurring when a person overdoses or uses Aloe vera for too long.Side effects of Aloe vera are minimal compared to many other medicines on the market. Aloe vera is a herbal, natural method and when used properly will cause no side effects.

Aloe vera

PRODUCTS

Aloe vera can be made into juices, gels, powders and is often added to products. It can be found in cosmetics, shampoos and lotions . It is an ingredient in commercially available yogurt, beverages and some desserts. It is common practice for cosmetic companies to add sap or other derivatives from A.vera to products such as makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, incense, razors and shampoos. It has also been suggested that biofuels could be obtained from A. vera seeds. Other uses for extracts of A. vera include the dilution of semen for the artificial fertilisation of sheep, use as fresh food preservative, and use in water conservation in small farms.

Aloe vera

PRODUCTS
Juice


Face Wash



Moisturizer




Gel



Cosmetics

There are a range of products of Aloe vera available such as supplementary tablets, capsules, juice, drink, shampoo, moiturizer, gel, tea, handwash and many more.

Aloe vera

Zingeber officinale Roscoe

CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom : Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class : Liliopcida
Subclass: Zingiberidae
Order : Zingiberales
Family : Zingiberaceae
Genus : Zingiber
Species : Z. officinale Roscoe

SYNONYM

Amomum zingeber

COMMON NAME

Calamus, Sweet Ginger, Ginger Root

PARTS USED

Rhizomes

Zingeber officinale Roscoe

VERNACULAR NAMES

Malay : Halia
English : Ginger
Sanskrit : Adrakam, Ardraka
Hindi : Adrak,Sunthi,Sonth
Kannada : Sunthi
Marathi : Nisam
Gujarati : Sunt
Tamil : Inji
French: gingembre
German: Ingwer
Italian: zenzero
Spanish: jengibre
Burmese: cheung, chiang, jeung
Indonesian: aliah
Japanese: mioga, myoga, shoga
Thai: k(h)ing (green)

HISTORY

Ginger is native to India and China. It takes its name from the Sanskrit word stringa-vera, which means “with a body like a horn”, as in antlers. Zingeber been important in Chinese medicine for many centuries, and is mentioned in the writings of Confucius.

It is also named in the Koran, the sacred book of the Moslems, indicating it was known in Arab countries as far back as 650 A.D. It was one of the earliest spices known in Western Europe, used since the ninth century. It became so popular in Europe that it was included in every table setting, like salt and pepper.

Chinese and Ayurvedic practitioners have relied on ginger for at least 3,000 years for its anti-inflammatory properties, and have used it as a “carrier herb", one that enables other herbs to be more effective in the body. In China, for example, ginger has been used to aid digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea for more than 2,000 years.

Since ancient times, ginger has also been used to help treat arthritis, colic, diarrhea, and heart conditions. In addition to these medicinal uses, ginger continues to be valued around the world as an important cooking spice and is believed to help the common cold, flu-like symptoms, headaches, and even painful menstrual periods. Native to Asia where its use as a culinary spice spans at least 4,400 years, ginger grows in fertile, moist, tropical soil.

Zingeber officinale Roscoe

FAMILY

Zingeber officinale is known as "common ginger" and referred to as Jamaican ginger, African ginger, or Cochin ginger, according to its geographical origin. The word "ginger" truly refers to the edible ginger of commerce known in the Malay language as halia and botanically as Zingeber officinale, while "gingers" is a general term for members or species of the ginger family.

Z.officinale is perennial plant belonging to the family of Zingeberaceae that consists of 47 genera including Zingeber, Curcuma, Alpinia, Amomum, Elettaria, Kaempferia and Hedychium, and of about 1,400 species. Ginger is native to Southeast Asia and has been cultivated in countries such as India and China for over 3,000 years. Today, it is widely cultivated in the tropical and temperate zone. The leading producers of Z.officinale are Indonesia, India, China and Japan while leading importers are Soudi Arabia, Yemen, United States, Japan and Europe.

Zingeber officinale Roscoe

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Z.officinale is a knotted, thick, an erect and aromatic herb with branched underground stem called rhizome which can grow from year to year if the rhizomes are left in the ground; bears seed very rarely.

The stem extends roughly 12 inches above ground with long, narrow, ribbed, green leaves, and white or yellowish-green flowers. It’s a perennial creeping plant, with thick tuberous rhizome, producing an erect stem 30 - 150 cm (1-5 ft) tall depending on the variety and condition under which it is grown.

The lance-shaped leaves are bright green, 15 - 20 cm (6-8 in) long, 2 cm wide with a prominent longitudinal rib, enclosing conical clusters of small yellow-green flowers marked with purple speckles.

It is propagated from rhizome cuttings, planted on rich, well drained loam. It requires a tropical climate with both a heavy rain season and a hot dry season. Plants shoot in ten days and are harvested after nine to ten months.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

The plant is widely cultivated all over India, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Jamaica and Nigeria.

CLIMATE

Ginger can be grown in any place in the country and it grows in warm climate. It grows well from sea level to an elevation of 1500 meters. Optimum elevation is from 300-900 meters above sea level. Growth diminishes at a much higher elevations.
Ginger requires a relatively high temperature and relative humidity. Optimum temperature for its growth is between 25 to 30 ˚C. Temperature higher than 35 ˚C will cause leaf scorching. Optimum annual rainfall for a successful ginger production is 200-300cm while ginger could be raised.

SOIL

Ginger grows in fertile, moist, tropical soil and can be planted on rich, well drained loam.

POLLINATION

Pollination has only been observed in a few spesies of Zingeberaceae, but butterflies and moths seem to play a major role. Ants and bees have been seen to visit several Amomum and Alpinia species, and may be pollinating agents.