KNOWLEDGE YOU CAN USE

KNOWLEDGE YOU CAN USE
Practical botany and Aloe vera: Can Aloe vera lessen the pain or duration of burns?

Question 19.7

Q: What is Aloe vera? Aloe vera is a species of succulent plant (also known as Aloe barbadensis) widely distributed in hot, dry areas, particularly in Africa.

Question 19.8

Q: Why the interest in Aloe vera? When Aloe vera leaves are cut, sap oozes from the inner tissues of the leaves. This clear fluid has long been touted as having a variety of medicinal properties—including providing relief from the pain of burns (including sunburn).

Question 19.9

Q: Does it work? Despite a long history of the use of Aloe vera to treat burns, the scientific evidence has often been conflicting. Numerous published research studies on Aloe vera have reported (1) anti-bacterial properties, (2) anti-inflammatory activity, and (3) direct stimulation of the immune system. In a 2008 report in the New England Journal of Medicine, for example, doctors suggested that Aloe vera may be used in lieu of topical anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the pain of first-degree burns. And a review of clinical trials of the use of Aloe vera for burn-wound healing in burn patients found an average reduction in healing time of almost nine days when compared with patients not treated with Aloe vera.

Still, there is no consensus at this point, with several published research reports finding no increase in burn healing or skin regeneration, and no reductions in bacterial counts. One study even found that Aloe vera “hindered the healing process” when compared with an antibacterial cream.

Question 19.10

Q: Why would a plant’s compound soothe human sunburn? Aloe vera contains a large number of compounds that are toxic to many herbivores, making it resistant to most insect pests. Researchers believe that these molecules, particularly some organic compounds called anthraquinones, salicylic acid (an aspirin-like compound), and some sterols with anti-inflammatory effects, are responsible for the soothing, healing effects of Aloe vera when applied to the skin. So far, though, researchers have been unable to figure out exactly how the process works.

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