Evaluation of Aloe vera barbadensis for its antimicrobial, phytochemical and ethnobotanical status

Phytochemical studies of the plant Aloe vera (barbadensis Miller) were carried out in order to detect the presences of alkaloid and flavonoids in the gel of Aloe vera through certain detection test and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The antimicrobial activity of A. vera (barbadensis Miller) was investigated on some test organisms using disc diffusion method. Ethanol, hot water and cold distilled water were the solvents used for extraction of the active ingredients from the plant leaf. The test organisms used were Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Bacillus subtilus. The result showed that A. vera hot water extract had more antibacterial activity then ethanolic and cold water extract. The largest zone of inhibition (42.00 mm) was produced in case of hot water extracts against S. typhi and E. coli . The results also showed that all the organisms tested were susceptible to the extract except E. coli , which was resistant to the cold and ethanolic extract. For susceptible strains, the diameter of zone of inhibition ranged from 33 – 42 mm.