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.... sábila
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