Aloe Vera Aloe (Synonyms: Aloe Vera) belonging to the family Plantae commonly known as Ghikumari, Guarpatha, Kuvarpatha.^3,4 It has been used for the manufacture of topical products such as ointments and gel preparations, as well as in the production of tablets and capsules.^2,5 Important pharmaceutical properties that have recently been discovered for both the A vera gel and whole leaf extract include the ability to improve the bioavailability of co-administered vitamins in human subjects. It has been claimed that the polysaccharides in A. vera gel have therapeutic properties such as immunostimulation, anti-inflammatory effects, wound healing, promotion of radiation damage repair, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-diabetic and anti-neoplastic activities, stimulation of hematopoiesis and anti-oxidant effects.^6,7,8 The two maloyl glucans, namely veracylglucan B and C, were each individually evaluated for biological activities.⁹ It was found that veracylglucan B demonstrated high anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferation effects, while veracylglucan C exhibited significant cell proliferative and anti-inflammatory activities.^10,11,12,13Salicylic acid. This is an aspirin-like compound possessing anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.^14,15,16 Topically, it has a kerolytic effect which helps to debride a wound of necrotic tissue. Aloe vera appears to speed up the healing of damaged epithelial tissue in bums and leg ulcers by Providing essential micronutrients, an anti-inflammatory effect¹⁷, an antimicrobial effect,¹⁸ and the stimulation of skin fibroblasts.¹⁹

2. MATERIAL AND METHOD:

2.1 Material:

Leaves Aloe vera Plant were collected from Hemu Nagar, Bilaspur (C.G.), Methly cellulose and Sodium Benzoate has purchased from Oxfrod Laboratory, Mumbai and Qualigens fine Chemicals, A division of galaxosmithkline pharmaceutical Ltd. Mumbai.

2.2 Method:

Extraction and Preparation of fresh gel: harvest leaves and wash them with water and a mild chlorine solution. Remove the outer layers of the leaf including the pericyclic cells, leaving a “fillet” of gel.²⁰ Care should be taken not to tear the green rind which can contaminate the fillet with leaf exudate. Now add 0.1% w/w Sodium Benzoate as preservative and add Methly cellulose 5 % w/w as gelling agent.

3. EVALUATION TEST:

3.1 Moisture Content:

The gel moisture content is expressed as a percentage of moisture based on wet weight (wet basis) or dry matter (dry basis). Wet basis moisture content is generally used in research.

                                     W - D

Mw (wet basis) = ----------------------- x (100)

W = wet weight

D = dry weight

M = moisture content on a percent basis

3.2 Limit Test for Heavy Metals:³

Sample: Dissolve a specified quantity of NaCl in 10ml of water, add acetic acid and adjust the pH between 3 and 4 by addition of NH3 solution or acetic acid and dilute to 35ml with water. Add 10ml of H2S solution and dilute to 50 ml. Mix, compare the darkness of solution with standard, viewing vertically downwards through the solution against a white background.

3.3 Loss on drying:

1 gm Aloe vera gel was taken in a crucible and dried in sun light the dried content was then weighed. The weight variation was calculated². The study was performed in triplicate.

3.4 Toxicity test¹⁶:

Preparation was applied after hair removal and effect on the skin was studied by observation after 24 hrs.

3.5. In Vivo ²¹:

In a rat skin burn model, animals were exposed to an alkaline injury when filter paper (2 cm in diameter) saturated with 2 N sodium hydroxide was placed over the Volar aspect of the animal for a period of 1 minute. Treatment was initiated 1 minute after injury and included either neutralization with a 85% Aloe vera gel (n = 8) or irrigation (n = 8) with water. The data were graphically analyzed using plot of wound diameter Vs healing rate.

3.5.1. Experimental animals: Male Wistar Rat

3.5.2. Wound creation: In a rat skin burn model, animals were exposed to an alkaline injury when filter paper (2 cm in diameter) saturated with 2 N sodium hydroxide was placed over the volar aspect of the animal for a period of 1 minute.

3.5.3. Administration of Aloe vera gel: Treatment was initiated 1 minute after injury and included either neutralization with a 85% Aloe vera gel (n = 8) or irrigation (n = 8) with water.

3.5.4. Grouping of animals: a 5% acetic acid solution (n = 8) or irrigation (n = 8) with water.

3.5.5. Rate of wound contraction and period of epithelialization

3.6. Statistical analysis:

The student’s t-test was also used to test the significance of the result obtained. Statistical significance was considered to be a p value less than 0.05.

4. RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Gel of Aloe vera has been prepared from leaves the Percent physical yield was 42%. The moisture content in the gel was approximately 70%⁸. The gel showed physical uniformity after storage for more than one week. This confirmed the activity of preservative Sodium Benzoate. As the gel is gel is also limit tested for presence of Toxic metal contents, which passed the test.

Table No. 1

Sample	Before drying	After drying	% Moisture Content
1.	1.07	0.33	69.158
2.	1.10	0.34	69.09
3.	1.02	0.30	70.58

4.1 Limit Test for Heavy Metals:

The limit test was passed by the preparation and it was not more than 20 ppm.

Table 2: Percentage reduction of burns (in mm)

Healing Agents	Day
Healing Agents	0	3	6	9	12	15	18	21
Aloe Gel	0%	48.8%	59.6%	75.8%	94.8%	100%	-	-
Darmazine cream	0%	37.2%	53.3%	66.7%	83.3%	92.4%	98.5%	100%
Sterilized Water	0%	11.1%	18.9%	23.3%	34.5%	42.7%	58.5%	66.7%

4.2 Loss on drying:

The weight of the dried material of Aloe vera gel was 12.4%, the mean of triplicate study and equivalent to international standards.

Fig 1. Photomicrograph of aloe vera gel and plant

Fig 2. Photomicrograph of wound before and after treatment with Standard (Darmazine cream) and aloe vera gel

Table 2: Graphical Representation wound healing

4.3 Toxicity test:

Aloe vera gel was applied after hair removal and effect on the skin was observed. The skin of the male wistar rats remains normal as before and no changes or signs of hypersensitivity or toxicity was observed.

4.4 In Vivo study:

The results of the healing effects of the various testing agents are presented in Table 2. There was a general decrease in burnt area upon application of the aloe gel and Dermazine with time. By 3rd day 50 % of the burns have healed with aloe gel and 100% healed by day 18th (Table 2). The group that received dermazine as standard gave 40 % healed by 3rd day and 100% day 21th. While washing only with water alone shows no much improvement within 21 days. The percentage wound healing effectiveness was as follows; aloe gel, dermazine and water wash (Table 2). It has been noted that dressing wounds with aloe gel allows early grafting on a clean clear base. The result of this study is an indication that aloe vera could be used as an alternative in wound dressing. This was supported by the findings of researchers Avijgan (2004)²² and Duansak, et al, (2003)²³who confirmed the use of aloe Vera for wound healing.

5. CONCLUSIONS:

A. vera has a long history as a medicinal plant with diverse therapeutic applications. Although it was claimed that some of the biological activities of this plant can be attributed to the polysaccharides found in the leaf gel, it is a daunting task to link individual polysaccharides to specific therapeutic properties. Differences in plant composition due to geographic location as well as differences in gel extraction methods and sample preparation techniques have contributed to discrepancies in the results obtained from many studies in terms of the chemical composition and biological activities of A. vera leaf gel. Current management of alkaline burn injuries involves immediate irrigation of the affected area with a continuous flow of water, which should be maintained for at least 2 hours, or longer if needed for symptomatic relief.Tissue damage caused by alkaline agents occurs rapidly and continues until pH returns to a physiologic level.Studies have shown that at pH levels above 12.0, tissue destruction occurs at the highest rate, whereas at pH levels below 11.0, tissue destruction occurs at a more moderate and pH-dependent rate. Historically, treatment of alkaline burns has been limited to irrigation with water. Past investigators have concluded that continuous water irrigation can reliably reduce the pH of tissue and thus halt injury when initiated within 1 minute of exposure. This, however, can take considerable time, resulting in more severe tissue damage. Moreover, attempts at neutralization of alkaline substances with acidic agents have been thwarted by concerns of an anticipated exothermic reaction arising from acid-base neutralization.^24,25 We assessed whether neutralization with acetic acid would be a more effective treatment of an alkaline skin burn than irrigation with water.

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Received on 04.04.2011

Accepted on 24.05.2011

Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 3(4): July- August 2011, 158-161