Aloe Research Articles

Phytochemical screening and pharmacognostical evaluation of cordia sebestena Linn.

Plants are known as treasures of effective drugs for various ailments from ancient times. Plant metabolites played a protagonist part in the detection and development of novel chemotherapeutic mediators. Therefore, exploring the medicinal importance of plants has become extremely important concerning the evolving ailments of the present times. In the existing investigation, phyto-constituents and antioxidant activity of the plant known as Cordia sebestena Linn. were discovered for their biological importance. Cordia sebestena Linn. is an understudied medicinal plant that belongs to the family Boraginaceae and is commonly known as Aloe wood, geranium tree, and sea trumpet. The investigation objective is to develop the high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprint outline of the phytoconstituent of Cordia sebestena Linn, to identify the component of medicinal importance. In the present study, the HPTLC technique for the parting of the active constituents in extracts has been developed via the solvent system toluene: methanol: acetone (16:4:1). This study has provided the biological source which can be an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and better option than the chemically synthesized drugs. In the future, these fingerprinting descriptions will be supportive in further studies like quality regulation of the drug and estimating therapeutic worth.

Traditional cultivation and management practices of agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) in Golaghat district of Assam

A few plant species of the Thymelaeceae family are highly valuable and demanding because it contains resinous oil in their stem, branches, and roots. Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) is one of them, which is found primarily in Assam and adjoining region of North Eastern parts of India as well as in other countries of South and South East India. In Assam, the plant is profusely cultivated in Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar districts. Naturally, stem of the older plant is infected by fungal consortia via the holes made by stem borer. The blackish infection appears inside the stem along the line of the borer tunnel and valuable resinous oil can be extracted through water distillation from the black, infected wood. The agar oil has great demand in international market and is used in manufacturing perfume, incense stick, fragrant smoke, and pharmaceuticals industry. Since ancient time, people of this region have been cultivating Aquilaria with the methods adopted from traditional knowledge and found better success of infection and oil yield. Documentation of this traditional knowledge of Aquilaria malaccensis is of significant importance for promoting its cultivation among the people of this region before the knowledge is lost forever. The knowledge will also be useful for developing scientific method of commercial cultivation of this perennial tree. In this paper, we are discussing the traditional method of cultivation of Aquilaria malaccensis including seedling preparation, cultivation, intercropping and management practices. Agar is propagated through seeds for growing healthy seedlings; and cultivation practices of the plant are of utmost concern for harvesting valuable oil. Extensive field survey has been conducted at Golaghat district of Assam, India to document the method of cultivation and management practices of the plant. The results obtained from the field study were analyzed and interpreted for understanding the importance of this traditional cultivation practice.

First Report of Infestation of the Agar Defoliator <i>Heortia vitessoides</i> (Moore) on the Agar Wood Tree <i>Aquilaria malaccensis</i> Benth. in South India

Massive infestation of the agar defoliator Heortia vitessoides (Moore) (Lepidoptera, Pyraloidea, Crambidae) was observed in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts in Kerala on agar wood tree Aquilaria malaccensis Benth. (Thymelaeaceae), during February – December, 2022. Of the 119 trees observed in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts, 115 were infested and six of them died due to the pest attack.

Present Status and Scopes for Future Improvement of Agar Essential Oil Processing Microenterprises in Selected Areas of Bangladesh

This cross-sectional study aims to explore the socio-demographic factors of the agar micro-entrepreneurs, the present status of production and marketing, the Covid-19 pandemic impacts and general problems of agar-based enterprises and their potential for further improvement. An exploratory survey was undertaken over 50 randomly selected micro-entrepreneurs (ME) and information was collected by face-to-face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire. As per respondents’ feedback, majority (100%) of the respondents engaged in agar oil or agarwood chips and dust processing besides agar plantation. In a zest, most of the MEs were launched within the past 20 years and more than 50% of them were found to beinvolved agar plantation directly. For waste product management, the majority of the MEs had processed water as waste having a disposal amount of 101-400 kg/day. In the case of production and post-production activities, more than half of the respondents (54%) escaped longer pre-fermentation steps and extracted oil direct by hydro-distillation method using heating, collection, post-production and purification steps. Most of the extraction plants were locally fabricated (46%). The respondents did not run any promotional activity and their products did not comply with traceability. During the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the MEs had to face a substantial financial loss monthly and did not receive any financial support from GoB, NGOs, or other organizations. To secure the maximum benefits from these agar-based MEs, respondents proposed financial support and quality raw materials, availability of experts, financial support, proper transportation facilities, labeling, and opportunities for expansion of market facilities.

The Rheological Properties and Texture of Agar Gels with Canola Oil-Effect of Mixing Rate and Addition of Lecithin.

This study aimed to determine the effect of different mixing rates and the addition of lecithin on the rheological mechanical, and acoustic properties of agar gels with the addition of canola oil. The mixing rate of the agar-oil mixture was changed from 10,000 to 13,000 rpm. Additionally, agar gels with the addition of lecithin from 1 to 5% were prepared. The frequency sweep test was used (at 4 and 50 °C) within the linear viscoelastic region (LVR) in oscillatory measurement. The agar-oil mixture was cooled from 80 to 10 °C, enabling the obtainment of the gelling temperature. Texture profile analysis (TPA) and compression tests, as well as the acoustic emission method, were applied to analyse the texture of the gels. The syneresis and stability of gels during storage were also measure. The increase in mixing rate in the case of agar gel with canola oil causes an increase in the elastic component of materials as well hardness and gumminess. Also, samples prepared with the higher mixing rate have more uniform and stable structures, with small bubbles. The increase in the concentration of lecithin is ineffective due to the formation of gels with a weak matrix and low hardness, gumminess, and stability during storage.

Regression models for estimating stem volume of Aquilaria malaccensis (Lam.) in North East India

Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. (Agar), a Critically Endangered tree species native to the tropical rain forests of South and South East Asia, is known for eaglewood and its oil of medicinal and aromatic value. In order to develop stem volume prediction models for agar tree, an exercise was carried out with 441 trees selected in North East India, by non-destructive sampling. The required variables, such as, diameter at breast height (D), tree height (H) and fraction diameters at 1 m interval were physically measured for estimating the volume of each fraction using Smalian formula, and summing up the volumes of fractions to yield the volume of the tree. A comparison of different stem volume models showed that the power function V=aDb and the polynomial of degree-3 V=a+bDH+cD2H+dDH2were the best fitting models for single independent variable D and two independent variables D & H, respectively. The regression models shall be useful for farmers to optimize their income while selling the agar wood. These agar specific regression models will also be helpful to fix the quota for agar wood harvest and trade in the country, while implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Documenting the Constraints and Its Allied Factors in Agar (Aquilaria malaccensis Roxb.) Tree Cultivation at Farm Level: A Case Study in Bangladesh

The study was conducted to investigate the socio-economic characteristics of the agar farmers, the extent of constraints in agar wood cultivation; and the factors allied with constraints in agar tree farming. Despite the enormous potential of agar (Aquilaria malaccensis Roxb.) production in Bangladesh, it has yet to gain traction due to socioeconomic, technical, and marketing challenges. The cultivation of agar trees is largely centered in the Sylhet region, where a large number of agar farmers engage. This research was carried out in Maulvibazar district's Barlekha upazila (sub-district) to better understand and assess the restrictions and factors that affect agar tree cultivation. A survey was conducted with 120 households during September 2018 to March 2019. Descriptive statistics, rank order, coefficient of correlation, and multiple linear regression were used to examine the data. Out of 12 constraints, the most significant barrier was a lack of funds to engage in agar farming (2.81), which was followed by a lack of technical guidance (2.71). The lack of labor was the least important constraint faced by the farmers (1.43). It was revealed that education, household size, farm size, number of trees per farmer, annual income, experience in agar farming, agar wood cultivation under trees and knowledge of agar cultivation of the farmers were shown to be realized to agar plantation constraints. However, education, farm size, annual revenue, and agar growing experience were identified as major drivers of the degree of agar farming constraints. The study identified various policymakers' potential to address the influencing variables (education, farm size, annual revenue, and agar farming experience) in establishing agar farming. Furthermore, finance facilities, adequate agar farming instruction, and forest department introspection could all help to reduce agar farming obstacles.

Grass-Colored Air

Breath holds time.In a short set of passages on spring from 1934, the Japanese novelist and film critic Osaki Midori (1896–1971), who had suffered a breakdown and left Tokyo for her native Tottori Prefecture two years before, includes the following telegram. It is characteristic of the modernist style for which her work is known: monsieur hamada congratulations on winning prize stop open tired old second floor window and breathe in lungfuls grass colored air stop propose toast in my heart to spring stop overworked stove in your workshop can relax stop my spring is three thirteen carried over from autumn stop1Reading this sealed in my room in October, with my overworked air purifier on full blast as the smoke swirled outside, I longed to be able to open up my tired old second-floor window and to breathe in the grass-colored air rather than the orange haze. To bring the world into my body in a way that didn’t feel fraught.I can feel it. I want respite. Right now, hope and possibility are bodily. Huge, voluminous feelings filtered into my lungs and my blood. I can breathe, and my breath holds time. Even if time feels at once dilated and homogeneous, my lungs expand and collapse.In the passage before the telegram, Osaki writes: If I clean the Mentholatum-colored roof and wind the clock, the fresh spring will come, ticktock. But, of course, for now I’m living outside of time. Until the fraying pollen of the pussy willows dissipates, the timepiece in my room will remain quietly stopped at 3:13.2Time has stopped at 3:13. It could move forward, but it doesn’t, and this stopped time is carried forward paradoxically through time, into the new year: “my spring is three thirteen carried over from autumn stop.” The phrase “my spring,” rendered in classical, masculine Japanese as ora ga haru, is a reference to the haiku poet Issa’s verse 目出度さも中位なりおらが春 Medetasa mo chū kurai nari ora ga haru—loosely translated as “My spring this year: a mixed blessing.”3 It’s a reflection on aging, at seeing another year pass as an old man and wondering how much longer you have left. The clock is still giving the same time.

The effect of agarwood inhalation using an electric incense burner on stress and brain waves

The effect of agarwood inhalation using an electric incense burner on stress and brain waves

Aplikasi Zat Pengatur Tumbuh Dan Kegiatan Pruning Dalam Optimalisasi Budidaya Gaharu Di Desa Duman Kecamatan Lingsar Lombok Barat

Tujuan dari pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah untuk memberikan pembinaan bagi para petani Desa Duman khususnya istri mereka untuk mengoptimalkan pertumbuhan pohon gaharu mereka melalui aplikasi pendorong pertumbuhan dan pemangkasan. Peserta pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah istri Petani Desa Duman. Pengabdian masyarakat ini diawali dengan sosialisasi tentang pentingnya mendorong pertumbuhan dan pemangkasan pada budidaya gaharu. Kemudian, para peserta diberi kesempatan untuk mempraktekkan teori yang mereka peroleh dari sosialisasi. Fitohormon giberelin adalah penginduksi pertumbuhan yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini. Dosis fitohormon tersebut adalah 1 gr untuk 2 liter air. Pemangkasan dilakukan dengan menebang cabang pucuk pohon gaharu menggunakan gunting tanaman. Daun dari cabang yang sudah dipotong pada kegiatan pemangkasan dapat diolah menjadi teh gaharu. Dapat disimpulkan bahwa peserta telah memahami tentang penerapan pendorong pertumbuhan dan pemangkasan untuk mengoptimalkan pertumbuhan pohon gaharu.Application of Growth Regulators and Pruning Activities in Optimizing Agarwood Cultivation in Duman Village, Lingsar District, West LombokAbstractThe aim of this community service is to give training for farmers of Duman Village, especially their wife, to optimize growth of their agarwood tree by application of promoting growth inducer and pruning. The participants on this community service were Farmers’s wife of Duman Village. This community service started by socialization about the important of promoting growth inducer and pruning activity on agarwood cultivation. Then, the participants were given an opportunity to practice the theory that they got from the socialization. Gibberellins phytohormone was the promoting growth inducer that was used in this activity. The dose of that phytohormone was 1 gr for 2 liter water. Pruning activity was conducted by cutting top branch of agarwood tree using plant scissors. Leaves from branch that has been cut on the pruning activity could be processed to produce agarwood tea. It could be concluded that participant has already understood about application of promoting growth inducer and pruning activity to optimize growth of agarwood tree.

<i>Neurozerra conferta</i> Walker. (Beehole Borer) on <i>Aquilaria malaccensis</i> Lamk. in Assam

Neurozerra conferta Walker. (syn. Zeuzera conferta) a lepidopteran wood borer belonging to the family Cossidae, is an important insect pest on Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk. in Northeast India. It is commonly known as beehole borer. The eggs are laid on the upper portion of the trunk near the branch. The newly hatched larvae enter into the branches or twigs of the tree by making hole through bark. They bore inside the tree trunk making zig-zag tunnels in upward direction, feeding within the tunnel and complete their larval and pupal stages inside the plant and emerge as adults and fly away. The duration of life cycle is 5 to 6 months depending on the temperature. Although Neurozerra conferta is a polyphagous pest of mangrove forests in Bangladesh, in Assam its infestation has been observed only on A. malaccensis . This tree species is renowned for its black oleoresin and its oil which has very high price in international market. Generally, agar wood is harvested by felling the tree and then cutting it down for making chips. Indiscriminate cutting of agar tree in search of agar wood by unskilled persons, has led to its decline in wild. Natural formation of agarwood happens mostly in areas where N. conferta is present, and in other areas artificial induction becomes necessary drilling holes on the tree. To ascertain the role of N. conferta on agarwood formation and to explore possibilities of its cultivation for release in areas where natural agarwood formation does not take place, the biology of the insect was studied in detail. Paucity of information on bio-ecology of N. conferta on A. malaccensis necessitated more observations. The same is presented with illustrations.

Utilization of Bottom Ash Coal and Agarwood in Waste Water Treatment in Palembang Jumputan Fabric

Waste containing dyes causes visual pollution and increase the risk of environmental and health issue. The aim of this study was to determine the best operating conditions of jumputan liquid waste treatment using bottom ash batubara and agar wood with variations in feed flow rate (1, 2, and 3 l/min), filtration time (30, 60, 90, and 120 mins), and treatment. The results are compared with the parameters of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and pH of clean water quality standards for jumputan industry businesses and/or activities regulated in the Governor’s of Sumatera Selatan Regulation Number 16 year 2005. The initials analysis of jumputan liquid waste before processing showed that jumputan liquid waste did not meet these quality standards, except pH and turbidity levels. In this study, jumputan liquid waste was pretreated using coal bottom ash and activated carbon, then filtered. Biodegradation of jumputan liquid waste by conventional method. The best of BOD, COD, TSS, pH, and the percentage of color rejection in the study were obtained in the treatment of jumputan liquid waste using bottom ash batubara and activated carbon at 120 minutes filtration time and a 1 l/minute feed flow rate namely BOD 5.98 mg/l, COD 15 mg/l, TSS 22.3 mg/l, pH 7.32, color 5 Pt-Co, and 0 NTU turbidity. The filtration with bottom ash coal and agar wood can removed the coloring from dyes.

Anti-Cancer potentials of the plant Aquilaria malaccensis leaves

In the present study the ethanolic extract of Aquilaria malaccensis (Agar wood) leaves before inoculation (BF) and after inoculation (AF)) was evaluated for its anticancer potentials. The leaf extracts (BF and AF) was subjected to in-vitro cytotoxicity studies on EAC cells, normal spleen cells and DLA cells. The leaf extracts showed dose dependent cytotoxicity with increase in dose. The IC50 value for BF and the AF leaf extract was 79.09?g/ml and 79.20?g/ml respectively. The effect on primary spleen cells was observed to be more than 100?g/ml. The study concluded that the extract of the said plant leaves has significant potential anti-cancer activity. All these results clearly indicate that the crude extract has a remarkable capacity to inhibit the growth of Ascites tumor induced by EAC cell line in animals. Keywords: Anti-cancer, Aquilaria malaccensis, EAC cell line.

Determination of Marked Components - aloin and aloe-emodin - in Aloe vera before and after hydrolysis

This article proposed an optimal hydrolysis condition and a chromatographic method for the analysis of polyphenol glycosides in aloe extract and its hydrolysates, The aglycones assayed were aloin and aloe-emodin, The linearity (r ＞ 0.9997) and validation (＜ 10%) of the calibration curves were excellent. The amounts of aloin were 76.1 ± 5.9 and 77.7 ± 2.8 μmol/g in decoction and hydrolysate, respectively, while those of aloe-emodin were 8.3 ± 0.5 and 8.1 ± 0.3 μmol/g, The contents of aloin and aloe-emodin in aloe showed no significant difference before and after hydrolysis, This may be due to that aloe sold in Chinese medicine retailer was processed and the glycosides have already been transferred to aglycones. In addition, the components may be decomposed during processing. The method developed here can be applied to determine aglycones and their glycosides in aloe for the quality control.

The effect of Aloe vera ethanol extract on the growth inhibition of Candida albicans.

Aim Candida albicans can cause two major types of infections: superficial infections (such as oral or vaginal candidiasis) as well as life-threatening systemic infections, and Aloe vera extract is one of the potentially useful therapeutic options. The aim of this study was to determine antifungal properties of Aloe vera ethanol extract on vulvovaginal candidiasis caused by Candida albicans. Methods Aloe vera ethanol extract was prepared by the maceration method with 70% ethanol and dissolved in DMSO into multiple concentrations (6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, and 50%). Candida albicans was cultured in Sabouraud dextrose agar for 72 hours and disc diffusion method was used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of each concentration in comparison with fluconazole. Zones of inhibition at 72 hours were measured and documented, then analysed to get the mean inhibition zone (MIZ). Results After 72 hours, all concentrations of Aloe vera ethanol extract showed inhibition effect against C. albicans with mean inhibition zones of each concentration, 12.450±0.208 mm (6.25%), 13.975±0.457 mm (12.5%), 15.650±0.420 mm (25%), and 17.225±0.512 mm (50%), respectively. Fluconazole revealed comparable antifungal effect with MIZ of 11.025±0.478 mm. Oneway ANOVA test showed a significant effect of Aloe vera ethanol extract on inhibition zone of Candida albicans growth (p<0.005). Conclusion Aloe vera ethanol extract possesses concentration dependent activity against Candida albicans that is comparable with standard antifungal agents.

Future of Agarwood in Malaysia

Future of Agarwood in Malaysia

Pelatihan Teknologi Bio-induksi untuk Petani Gaharu di Desa Pejaring, Kabupaten Lombok Timur

Agar wood farmer of Pejaring Village have used traditional method to induce resin formation on agarwood tree. They used mechanical method induction by nail and machete tools as well as chemical method induction by chemical liquid that the called by “infus”. These traditional methods influenced resin formation on agarwood tree at their agarwood plantation. That resin production was low in productivity and low in efficiency. The purpose of this community service was to conducted workshop of bio-induction technology for Pejaring Village agarwood farmer to solve their problem. Agarwood farmer of Pejaring Village were directly involved in all bio-induction training activity. This training was started by socialization of program through FGD with Agarwood Farmer of Pejaring Villange. Practical stage was started by selecting agarwood tree for sample by themselves. After selecting process has been done, training continued by bio-induction of agarwood sample using bore and injecting method also by themselves. The last stage was monitoring and evaluating of resin production on agarwood sample as result of bio-induction. In this stage, they got opportunity to give self-assessment of those resin production by organoleptic test. Bio-induction technology could stimulate resin formation on agarwood tree sample at 3 months after induction. This result was much better comparing to the result of traditional induction method that they used to conducted. Organoleptic test has confirmed that resin has quite good fragrance quality. It could be concluded that Pejaring Village agarwood farmers have understood about bio-induction technique and could applied that technology to replace traditional technology.

The Screening of White-Rot Fungi as Biological Control Agents against Ganoderma philippii

Ganoderma philippii is the causal agent of root rot disease causing economic losses to Acacia plantations. In an effort to control the Ganoderma root-rot disease, we isolated and screened white-rot fungi as biological control agents. We collected 107 samples from forestry plantations in Riau Province. The fungi were isolated from rotten wood including trunks and twigs, and fruiting bodies. Out of the 107 samples, 28 from rotten woods and 51 from fruiting bodies were successfully isolated. Screening of the isolated fungi was done on wood block, wood disc, and wood-powder-containing agar. Eleven isolates showed fast growth on wood block and in subsequent second screening in dual culture on wood disc, three isolates showed fast growth and were capable of overgrowing G. philippii. The third screening was to examine quantitative growth rate of selected fungal isolates on malt extract agar wood powder (MEA-WP) two isolates were selected. These two isolates have shown potential as biological control agents of the root-rot pathogen, G. philippii.

Hydrophilic Natural Polymers for Sustained-controlled Release of Calcium Hydroxide.

Calcium Hydroxide (CH) is commonly employed as intracanal medicament in endodontics. In order to maximize its therapeutic effects, it is essential to develop new approaches for preparing the controlled drug release systems which, in turn, facilities the dissociation of CH into calcium and hydroxyl ions. This work studies the sustained-controlled release of calcium ions and the effect of pH changes on the different formulation of CH with hydrophilic natural polymers over a period of 30 days. Various formulations were prepared by combining CH with gelatin, aloe vera and gum tragacanth. Root canals of 60 human teeth were instrumented and filled with a different formulation of CH and suspended in plastic tubes containing distilled water. Three formulas of polymer/CH were evaluated, and pure CH powder was used as a control. At specific time intervals, the calcium ions release and the pH changes of the medium in different formulations were analyzed. The main interactions between the studied polymers and CH were investigated using FTIR spectra. The antibacterial activity of formulations against Enterococcus faecalis was also studied. Faster release of CH was observed for aloe vera/CH. Gum tragacanth/CH showed a slow-release during the first 15 days. In contrast, only Gelatin/CH formulation showed a prolonged release with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The pure CH showed significantly higher pH values than the other formulations. The Gelatin/CH formulation was a better sustained-release system than the pure CH, and it can be used as a promising vehicle for CH in the root canal treatment.

Oral lichen planus and lichenoid lesions: what's new?

In recent years, a large number of studies have been published evaluating the therapy of oral lichen planus. In addition to standard medication such as topical glucocorticoid therapy, substances such as Aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and treatments from traditional Chinese medicine have also been investigated. It is not always easy for dental practitioners to find an adequate therapy according to the clinical picture. This article presents therapies for dental practitioners who do not focus on treating patients with oral mucosa diseases. Oral lichenoid lesions, which are clinically and histologically similar, must be distinguished from oral lichen planus. Before starting therapy, it is necessary to differentiate between drug- and contact-related variants. Both clinical features have in common that according to the World Health Organization (2017) they belong to the class of potentially malignant disorders. Accordingly, these patients must be referred to a regular, and in oral lichen planus patients, lifelong, recall.