Aloe, aloe vera (Aloe vera).Plant Part Used: Leaf, leaf gel.Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf gel: applied topically for skin conditions: minor abrasions, burns, cuts, fungal infection, scrapes, sunburn, wound-healing; taken orally for common cold, flu-like symptoms, pulmonary infection.Safety: Results of toxicity studies and published literature.Contraindications: Internal use: pregnancy, lactation, children under 12 y, individuals with inflammatory intestinal disease.Drug Interactions: Internal use: cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmic drugs (potential potassium loss and intensified drug effect); thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, licorice, corticosteroids (risk of potassium loss); antidiabetic drugs: (risk of hypoglycemia).Clinical Data: Clinical: anesthetic, antiviral, burn-healing, wound-healing (leaf gel).Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, chemomodulatory, hypothyroid, wound-healing (leaf pulp/gel).In vitro: antileukemic, antimutagenic, antitumor, cytotoxic, enzyme inhibition (chemical constituents).* See entry for Sábila in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.
Health Encyclopedia