Pharmaceutical, nutritional and cosmetic applications of Aloe vera plant

Abstract

The Aloe vera plant is used in Ayurvedic, Homoeopathic and Allopathic streams of medicine, and not only as medicine but also as food. The juice leaves are the most valuable part of the plant and it contains numerous vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, natural sugars and other bioactive compounds with emollient, purgative, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, aphrodisiac, anti-helminthic, antifungal, antiseptic and most of cosmetic values. This plant mainly acts on the human skin and it has potential to cure sunburns, burns and minor cuts, acne, skin cancer and gives a youthful glow to the skin. As an internal property Aloe vera juice acts as extremely powerful laxative. Furthermore; according to Ayurvedic literature Aloe vera is the treatment of various diseases such as fever, colic, indigestion, worm infestation, splenomegaly, liver disorder and it is also used as powerful detoxifier and immune-booster.