Aloe Vera Aloe Vera, Also Known As The Medicinal Aloe,

Aloe vera Aloe vera, also known as the medicinal aloe, is a species of succulent plant that probably originated in Northern Africa. Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa and other arid areas. [1] The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine. There have been many scientific studies of the use aloe vera, some of it conflicting.[2][3][4][5] Despite these limitations, there is some preliminary evidence that Aloe vera extracts may be useful in the treatment of diabetes and elevated blood lipids in humans.[4] These positive effects are thought to be due to the presence of compounds such as polysaccharides, mannans, anthraquinones and lectins.[4][6][7] also cures falling hair and wounds. Description Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 60–100 cm (24–39 in) tall, spreading by offsets. The stems are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on the upper and lower stem surfaces.[8] The margin of the stem is serrated and has small white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on a spike up to 90 cm (35 in) tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long.[8][9] Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.[10] Taxonomy and etymology The species has a number of synonyms: A. barbadensis Mill., Aloe indica Royle, Aloe perfoliata L. var. vera and A. vulgaris Lam.,[11][12] and common names including Chinese Aloe, Indian Aloe, true Aloe, Barbados Aloe, burn Aloe, first aid plant.[9][13][14][15][16] The species name vera means "true" or "genuine."[13] Some literature identifies the white spotted form of Aloe vera as Aloe vera var. chinensis,[17][18] however, the species varies widely with regard to leaf spots[19] and it has been suggested that the spotted form of Aloe vera may be conspecific with A. massawana.[20] The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Aloe perfoliata var. vera,[21] and was described again in 1768 by Nicolaas Laurens Burman as Aloe vera in Flora Indica on the 6th of April and by Philip Miller as Aloe barbadensis some ten days after Burman in the Gardener's Dictionary.[22] Techniques based on DNA comparison suggest that Aloe vera is relatively closely related to Aloe perryi, a species that is endemic to Yemen.[23] Similar techniques, using chloroplast DNA sequence comparison and ISSR profiling have also suggested that Aloe vera is closely related to Aloe forbesii, Aloe inermis, Aloe scobinifolia, Aloe sinkatana and Aloe striata.[24] With the exception of South African species, A. striata, these Aloe species are native to Socotra (Yemen), Somalia and Sudan.[24] The lack of obvious natural populations of the species have led some authors to suggest that Aloe vera may be of hybrid origin.[25]

Aloin Aloin was the common ingredient in OTC laxative products in the United States prior to 2003, when the FDA ruled that aloin was a class III ingredient, therefore banning its use"FDA". http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12001972.. It should be noted that processed aloe that contains aloin is used primarily as a laxative, whereas processed aloe vera juice that does not contain significant amounts of aloin is used as a digestive healer. Manufacturers commonly remove aloin in processing due to the FDA ruling. Distribution The natural range of Aloe vera is unclear, as the species has been widely cultivated throughout the world. It has been suggested that naturalised stands of the species occur through North Africa in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, along with the Canary and Madeira Islands.[11] The species was introduced to China, India, Pakistan and various parts of southern Europe in the 17th century.[26] The species is widely naturalised elsewhere, occurring in temperate and tropical regions of Australia, Barbados, Belize, Nigeria, Paraguay and the USA.[19][27] It has been suggested that, like many Aloes, the species is originally from Southern Africa and that populations that occur elsewhere are the result of human cultivation.[19] Cultivation Aloe vera has been widely grown as an ornamental plant. The species is popular with modern gardeners as a putatively medicinal plant and due to its interesting flowers, form and succulence. This succulence enables the species to survive in areas of low natural rainfall, making it ideal for rockeries and other low-water use gardens.[8] The species is hardy in zones 8–11, although it is intolerant of very heavy frost or snow.[9][28] The species is relatively resistant to most insect pests, though mealy bugs, scale insects and aphid species may cause a decline in plant health.[29][30] In pots, the species requires well-drained sandy potting soil and bright sunny conditions. The use of a good quality commercial propagation mix or pre-packaged "cacti and succulent mix" is recommended as they allow good drainage.[31] Terracotta pots are preferable as they are porous.[31] Potted plants should be allowed to completely dry prior to re-watering. During winter, Aloe vera may become dormant, during which little moisture is required. In areas that receive frost or snow the species is best kept indoors or in heated glasshouses.[9] Large scale agricultural production of Aloe vera is undertaken in Australia,[32] Cuba,[33] the Dominican Republic, China, Mexico,[34] India,[35] Jamaica,[36] Kenya and South Africa,[37] along with the USA[38] to supply the cosmetics industry with Aloe vera gel. Anthropogenic uses Scientific evidence for the cosmetic and therapeutic effectiveness of Aloe vera is limited and when present is typically contradictory.[2][3] Despite this, the cosmetic and alternative medicine industries regularly make claims regarding the soothing, moisturising and healing properties of Aloe vera, especially via Internet advertising.[4][39][40][41][42] Aloe vera

gel is used as an ingredient in commercially available lotion,yogurt, beverages and some desserts.[43][44][45] Aloe vera juice is used for consumption and relief of digestive issues such as heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome. It is common practice for cosmetic companies to add sap or other derivatives from Aloe vera to products such as makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, incense, razors and shampoos.[43] It has also been suggested that biofuels could be obtained from Aloe vera seeds.[46] Other uses for extracts of Aloe vera include the dilution of semen for the artificial fertilization of sheep,[47] use as fresh food preservative,[48] and use in water conservation in small farms.[49] Medicine Aloe vera has a long association with herbal medicine, although it is not known when its medical applications were first discovered. Early records of Aloe vera use appear in the Ebers Papyrus from 16th century BCE,[16] in both Dioscorides' De Materia Medica and Pliny the Elder's Natural History written in the mid-first century CE[16] along with the Juliana Anicia Codex produced in 512 CE.[43] Aloe vera is non-toxic, with no known side effects, provided the aloin has been removed by processing. Taking Aloe vera that contains aloin in excess amounts has been associated with various side effects.[4][5][50] However, the species is used widely in the traditional herbal medicine of China, Japan, Russia, South Africa, the United States,Jamaica and India.[4] Aloe vera is alleged to be effective in treatment of wounds.[5] Evidence on the effects of Aloe vera sap on wound healing, however, is limited and contradictory.[5] Some studies, for example, show that Aloe vera promotes the rates of healing,[51][52] while in contrast, other studies show that wounds to which Aloe vera gel was applied were significantly slower to heal.[53][54] A more recent review (2007) concludes that the cumulative evidence supports the use of Aloe vera for the healing of first to second degree burns.[55] In addition to topical use in wound or burn healing, internal intake of Aloe vera has been linked with improved blood glucose levels in diabetics,[56][57] and with lower blood lipids in hyperlipidaemic patients.[58] In other diseases, preliminary studies have suggested oral Aloe vera gel may reduce symptoms and inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis. [59] Compounds extracted from Aloe vera have been used as an immunostimulant that aids in fighting cancers in cats and dogs;[6] however, this treatment has not been scientifically tested in humans. The injection of Aloe vera extracts to treat cancer has resulted in the deaths of several patients.[60] Topical application of Aloe vera may be effective for genital herpes and psoriasis.[61] However, it is not effective for the prevention of radiation-induced injuries, nor does it offer protection from sunburn or suntan.[62] In a double-blind clinical trial the group using an Aloe vera containing dentifrice and the group using a fluoridated dentifrice both demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of gingivitis and plaque.[63] Aloe vera extracts have antibacterial and antifungal activities. Aloe vera extracts have been shown to inhibit the growth of fungi that cause tinea,[64] however, evidence for control beneath human skin remains to be established. For bacteria, inner-leaf gel from Aloe vera was shown to inhibit growth of Streptococcus and Shigella species in vitro.[65]

In contrast, Aloe vera extracts failed to show antibiotic properties against Xanthomonas species. Biologically active compounds Aloe vera leaves contain a range of biologically active compounds, the best studied being acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones and anthraquinones and various lectins.[4][6][7]

Bio Diversity Management INTRODUCTION Biodiversity encompasses the variety of all life on earth. India is one of the 12mega diverse countries of the world. With only 2.5% of the land area, India already accounts for 7.8% of the global recorded species. India is also rich in traditional and indigenous knowledge, both coded and informal. India is a Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992).Recognizing the sovereign rights of States to use their own biological resources, the Convention expects the parties to facilitate access to genetic resources by other Parties subject to national legislation and on mutually agreed upon terms (Article 3 and 15 of CBD). Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity recognizes contributions of local and indigenous communities to the conservation and sustainable utilization of biological resources through traditional knowledge, practices and innovations and provides for equitable sharing of benefits with such people arising from the utilization of their knowledge, practices and innovations. Biodiversity is a multi-disciplinary subject involving diverse activities and actions. The stakeholders in biological diversity include the Central Government, State Governments, institutions of local self-governmental organizations, industry, etc. One of the major challenges before India lies in adopting an instrument ,which helps realise the objectives of equitable sharing of benefits enshrined in the Convention on Biological Diversity. After an extensive and intensive consultation process involving the stakeholders, the Central Government has brought Biological Diversity Act,2002 with the following salient features:-i. to regulate access to biological resources of the country with the purpose of securing equitable share in benefits arising out of the use of biological resources; and associated knowledge relating to biological resources; ii. to conserve and sustainably use biological diversity; iii. to respect and protect knowledge of local communities related to biodiversity; iv. to secure sharing of benefits with local people as conservers of biological resources and holders of knowledge and information relating to the use of biological resources; v. conservation and development of areas of importance from the standpoint of biological diversity by declaring them as biological diversity heritage sites; vi. protection and rehabilitation of threatened species; vii. involvement of institutions of state governments in the broad scheme of the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act through constitution of committees.

Status survey of some locally used medicinal plants Vindhyan Eco-region: The project aims at status survey collection, identification; taxonomic characterization of locally used important medicinal plants of Vindhyan eco-region and studies the conservation measures taken so far and evaluation strategies for ex-situ and in situ conservation. Project duration is one year and PI of the project is Dr. S.N. Mihra, HOD, Botany Department, Govt. Science Model College, Rewa. Biodiversity of Fish species in aquatic ecosystem of Rewa district The objectives of the project are documentation of fish biodiversity of the wetlands of Rewa district and also the documentation of water resources of the same area. Identification of spawning area of fishes and enlist the strategies for their conservation. Project duration is one year and PI of the project is Dr. S.N Shukla, Department of Zoology, Govt. Model College, Rewa. Information & Documentation Mapping biodiversity and disseminating biodiversity related information on the state is one of the key mandates of the Board. For this development of Peoples Biodiversity Registers is the flagship programme. Facilitated by NGOs, academia and Government agencies, the process of developing PBRs solicits functional participation of village communities and ensures ownership at the same time the methodology harmonizes local know-how with scientific knowledge. Eco-regional assessments and thematic research anchored by leading academic institutions is another way of collating existing information and generating new information. Some of the salient outputs envisaged under this thematic area are: • • • • • •

PBRs in 6 eco-regions PBRs driven by colleges/ Schools Eco-regional documents Thematic reports from eco-regions on different facets of Biodiversity State level reports on Sustainable limits/practices of focal taxa Book on best practices Education Awareness & Training

Biodiversity awareness to trigger off actions by a range of stakeholders is high on Board's agenda. Taken up collaboratively, these awareness programme use an array of methods ranging from Yatra's, meetings, workshops, nature camps and nature walks, media campaigns etc. Strengthening biodiversity education in school and college curricula (both formal and non-formal) is an important strategy to inculcate conservation ethics in the younger minds. The main outputs under this thematic area are: • • •

Media campaign (AV with eco-regional partners) Mowgli Bal Utsav Reviving/setting-up civil society institutions

• • • •

Biodiversity Pustika developed and disseminated WALMI/SIRD running courses on Biodiversity Minimum one Interpretation centre in urban area (Ekant Park-Bhopal) Commencement of work on two Biodiversity Parks (Jabalpur and Gwalior)

Ecological effects of biodiversity The diversity of species and genes in ecological communities affects the functioning of these communities. These ecological effects of biodiversity in turn affect both climate change through enhanced greenhouse gases, aerosols and loss of land cover, and biological diversity, causing a rapid loss of ecosystems and extinctions of species and local populations. The current rate of extinction is sometimes considered a mass extinction, with current species extinction rates on the order of 100 to 1000 times as high as in the past.[1] The two main areas where the effect of biodiversity on ecosystem function have been studied are the relationship between diversity and productivity, and the relationship between diversity and community stability. More biologically diverse communities appear to be more productive (in terms of biomass production) than are less diverse communities, and they appear to be more stable in the face of perturbations Definitions of diversity, productivity, and stability In order to understand the effects that changes in biodiversity will have on ecosystem functioning, it is important to define some terms. Biodiversity is not easily defined, but may be thought of as the number and/or evenness of genes, species, and ecosystems in a region. This definition includes genetic diversity, or the diversity of genes within a species, species diversity, or the diversity of species within a habitat or region, and ecosystem diversity, or the diversity of habitats within a region. Two things commonly measured in relation to changes in diversity are productivity and stability. Productivity is a measure of ecosystem function. It is generally measured by taking the total aboveground biomass of all plants in an area. Many assume that it can be used as a general indicator of ecosystem function and that total resource use and other indicators of ecosystem function are correlated with productivity. Stability is much more difficult to define, but can be generally thought of in two ways. General stability of a population is a measure that assumes stability is higher if there is less of a chance of extinction. This kind of stability is generally measured by measuring the variability of aggregate community properties, like total biomass, over time [2] The other definition of stability is a measure of resilience and resistance, where an ecosystem that returns quickly to an equilibrium after a perturbation or resists invasion is thought of as more stable than one that doesn't

Productivity and stability as indicators of ecosystem health The importance of stability in community ecology is clear. An unstable ecosystem will be more likely to lose species. Thus, if there is indeed a link between diversity and stability, it is likely that losses of diversity could feedback on themselves, causing even more losses of species. Productivity, on the other hand, has a less clear importance in community ecology. In managed areas like cropland, and in areas where animals are grown or caught, increasing productivity increases the economic success of the area and implies that the area has become more efficient, leading to possible long term resource sustainability.[4] It is more difficult to find the importance of productivity in natural ecosystems. This will be discussed in more detail later. Effects of diversity on community productivity

How species diversity may influence productivity •

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Complementarity Plant species coexistence is thought to be the result of niche partitioning, or differences in resource requirements among species. By complementarity, a more diverse plant community should be able to use resources more completely, and thus be more productive.[4][6] Also called niche differentiation, this mechanism is a central principle in the functional group approach, which breaks species diversity down into functional components. [7][8] Facilitation Facilitation is a mechanism whereby certain species help or allow other species to grow by modifying the environment in a way that is favorable to a co-occurring species.[9] Plants can interact through an intermediary like nitrogen, water, temperature, space, or interactions with weeds or herbivores among others. Some examples of facilitation include large desert perennials acting as nurse plants, aiding the establishment of young neighbors of other species by alleviating water and temperature stress,[10] and nutrient enrichment by nitrogen-fixers such as legumes. The Sampling Effect The sampling effect of diversity can be thought of as having a greater chance of including a species of greatest inherent productivity in a plot that is more diverse. This provides for a composition effect on productivity, rather than diversity being a direct cause. However, the sampling effect may in fact be a compilation of different effects. The sampling effect can be separated into the greater likelihood of selecting a species that is 1) adapted well to particular site conditions, or 2) of a greater inherent productivity. Additionally, one can add to the sampling effect a greater likelihood of including 3) a pair of species that highly complement each other, or 4) a certain species with a large facilitative effect on other members of the community.