ALOE INDICA ROYLE

Common Name : Ghritkumai
Plant Parts Used : Leaves, Juice and Pulp

Description:
Aloe plants are characterized by stemless large, thick,fleshy leaves, lance shaped, sharp apex and a spiny margin.The colour of leaves varies from species to species - gray to bright green, chocolate brown to black.

Characteristics and Constituents :
The three main pentoside constituents of aloe indica royle are barbaloin, isobarbaloin and ?-barbaloin. The other minor constituents isolated are volatile and nonvolatile oils,resin, gum, emodin, chrysophanic acid and traces of coumarin.

Actions and Uses :
Intravenous injection of extract of aloe increases the flow of hepatic bile in the anaesthetized dog. The duration of action is relatively long. The effect of the water and alcohol extract of the leaves in female rats showed 88% reduction in fertility. The effect of the aqueous extract was studied in Triton induced hyperlipidoemia in mondey.
Aloe Indica is used as an appetite-stimulant tonic in small doses and in larger doses as a purgative, and indirectly, emmenogogue and antheimintic in children. The leaf extract along with sugar is used in cough and colds. A sweet confection prepared from the pulp of the leaves is given in piles. The ayurvedic preparation Kumari Asava is used in several ailments such as general debility, cough, dyspnoea, asthma etc. it is also used in jaundice.
With standard doses used in man, occasionally a laxative effect can occur.