The experiment was carried out at the Animal House of the faculty of animal husbandry and veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam
Dr. Abdullah G Arijo
Rabia Sultana, a research scholar, now working at Panjwani Institute of Molecular Medicine, came to Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam to become part of my research team and wanted to test if Aloe Vera gel promotes hair growth. During the discussion, she broke her idea that Aloe Vera contains vitamins A, C, and E. All three of these vitamins contribute to cell turnover, promoting healthy cell growth and shiny hair. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are also contained in Aloe Vera gel.
She asked for 8 lab mice to start her experiment, and the story started. Rabia would come every morning and every reading on mice data developed my interest and we came to the conclusion that the shaved mice on which the Aloe Vera gel extract show significant hair growth when compared with shaved mice that did not receive any Aloe Vera gel application.
Aloe Vera is known for its medicinal benefits and is widely used in some remedies even in hair growth. With a view to testing the village wisdom, an extract of aloe Vera was applied to the shaved abdomen of 3 experimental mice, and one was left with no Aloe Vera treatment for 15 days. The results indicated that the experimental mice that received a topical application with Aloe Vera showed fast growth of hair as compared to un-treated the control.
Humans have many issues related to hair, such as hair loss, thinning, excessive dryness, itchiness around the scalp, dandruff, and many more. Such issues are a cause of frustration. There have been many attempts to get rid of these hair problems including the use of Aloe Vera gel.
Aloe Vera is a xerophytic plant approximately 90 cm tall. Its leaves are a thick and fleshy-producing gel that is used for hair growth. The gel can be easily squeezed out by breaking off one of the tendrils and cracking it open.
Aloe Vera is known to activate new hair growth along with the growth of already-existing hair follicles by increasing blood circulation. Aloe Vera contains a kind of enzyme that helps in new hair growth.
Aloe Vera is grown mainly in the dry regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, and America (Surjushe, 2008 ) Aloe vera is one of approximately 420 species of the genus Aloe (Dagne et al. 2000) and has been used for medicinal purposes in several cultures such as Greece, Egypt, India, Mexico, Japan and China. (Marshall, 1990). It is the most biologically active of the Aloe species (World Health Organization, 1999) and its gel consists of several pharmacologically active ingredients which stimulate fibroblasts during the formation of cicatricial tissue, enhancing the deposition of collagen fibres in the extracellular matrix (Chithra, 998). Besides hair growth, Aloe vera also helps in the reduction of dandruff (Kumar 2010). The proteolytic enzymes found in aloe vera help to eradicate dead skin cells on the scalp.
Aloe Vera gel also repairs dry and damaged hair in a short span of time for it contains a good amount of protein which is necessary for maintaining the good health of the hair.
The present study was carried out on albino mice to see the effect of the topical application of Aloe Vera gel.
This experiment was carried out at the Animal House of the faculty of animal husbandry and veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. The Aloe Vera was collected from the faculty garden of the Faculty of Animal husbandry, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. Four female mice were taken from the “Animal House” The leaf of Aloe Vera was peeled off and the gel was extracted in the jar.
On the 1st day of the experiment, the abdomen of all the mice was shaved by the electrical trimmer (Super AGR+USA) (as shown in fig 1). The Aloe Vera was peeled off and the gel was applied to the abdominal part of an experimental group only on daily basis and the control was left with no aloe Vera treatment. The Aloe Vera treatment continued for 15 days.
A total of 4 Swiss albino mice were taken from the Animal House, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. After the 5 days of treatment, the experimental mice that were treated with Aloe Vera showed the initial growth of hair as compared to the control that was left untreated. The result indicates that the hair growth in mice treated with Aloe Vera started after the 5 days of treatment while the control showed no hair growth.
After 10 days of treatment, the Aloe Vera treated mice were examined to show increased growth of hair whereas the control showed less growth as compared to the experimental group. The result indicated that hair growth in mice treated with Aloe Vera showed increased hair growth while the control was showing normal growth of hair.
At the end of 15 days of treatment, the experimental mice showed complete abdominal hair growth while the control showed less hair growth as compared to the experimental group. The Data and the figures showed that the mice left untreated showed less hair growth while the mice treated with Aloe Vera showed high growth. The control took 20 days for the complete growth of hair and the experimental group took 15 days. This indicated that Aloe Vera is highly effective and promotes the growth of hair.
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About the Author
Prof. (R) Dr. Abdullah G. Arijo is Advisor and Visiting Professor Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Science, Sakrand, Sindh Pakistan. Formerly, he was Chairman, Department of Parasitology, Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam. After retirement, he also served there as Advisor Academics & P&D to Vice Chancellor. He can be reached at Email: abdullaharijo.faculty@sbbuvas.edu.pk
Good knowledge regarding Aloe vera