Efficiency of Asiatic pennywort (Centella asiatica L. Urban) extract in the stabilization of Aloe vera gel

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in the Dept. of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, during 2016 -17 for the development of a protocol for the stabilization of fresh aloe gel using Centella asiatica extracts. Fresh aloe gel samples were treated with three forms (decoction, aqueous and alcoholic extracts) of Centella asiatica in order to find out their efficiency in the stabilization of aloe gel. Observations on pH, conductivity, T.S.S, vitamin C and microbial load of samples were recorded at weekly intervals for a period of one month and compared with fresh aloe juice and also with aloe juice treated with a chemical preservative (sodium benzoate) as control. 5ml alcoholic extract treated samples recorded a pH, conductivity, TSS and vitamin C content which was almost equal to that of pure gel up to two weeks of storage. Assessment of microbial load of these samples after two weeks of storage revealed no bacterial, fungal, actinomycetes and E.Coli colonies in the samples. Hence it can be concluded that Aloe vera juice sample treated with 5ml alcoholic extract of Centella asiatica could retain the characteristics of fresh juice up to two weeks of storage and was free from microbial contaminants.