Ghrita kumari, Kanya (WOA, 1998).
Common Name: Aloe Vera, Burn plant, Medicinal Aloe
Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis Mill.
Family: Liliaceae
Medicinal Uses
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.
Veterinary Uses
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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