Management of genital herpes in men with 0.5% Aloe Vera extract in a hydrophilic cream: a placebo- controlled double-blind study

BACKGROUND Genital herpes simplex virus infection is unique to humans, and is one of the commonest sexually transmitted diseases worldwide.OBJECTIVE The purpose of this double-blind placebo-controlled study was to determine the clinical efficacy and tolerability of Aloe vera extract 0.5% in a hydrophilic cream to cure patients afflicted with the first episodes of genital herpes.METHODS Preselected patients (n=60), aged 18–40 years (mean 23.6), with culture-confirmed diagnosis of herpes simplex genitalis, harboring 738 lesions (mean 12.3), were randomized to active or placebo treatment. Patients entered the study within 7 days (mean 4.1) of the onset of the lesions. Each patient was provided with a precoded 40-g tube, containing placebo/active preparation with instructions on self-application of the trial medication to their lesions three times daily for 5 consecutive days (maximum 15 topical applications per week). To assess the clinical efficacy and other beneficial effects patients were examined twice w...