ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION& JUSTIFICATION: The use of herbal medicine is a population health
care approach and there are signs pointing to the continuing increase in the use of such products.
The idea that herbal medicine products are completely safe and fit for human use because they
come from natural sources is dangerously false. Herbal medicines do not differ greatly from
conventional drugs in terms of their mechanisms of actions and this gives them the same
potential to cause harmful side effects. There is a growing body of evidence from randomized
controlled trials and systematic reviews to support the efficacy of certain herbal preparations in
particular conditions, especially in the developed countries. However, most of the preparations
still remain untested. It is therefore critical to screen herbal medicines for biological effects and
fitness for human use.
OBJECTIVES: This study involved an investigation to determine the abilities of Aloevera
capsules extra specialto elicit biological/ pharmacological effects. It also involved investigation
to determine the main chemical groups responsible for the biological effects.
MATERIALS& METHODS: The herbal preparation-Aloe Vera capsules Extra Special was
subjected to a laboratory based analytical study. Phytochemical investigation was done by TLC
and phytochemical tests. Pharmacological screening for biological effects was done on live
animal tissues like the guinea pig trachea, rat uterus, rabbit heart, rat diaphragm and rabbit ileum.
RESULTS: Phytochemically, the herbal preparation tested positive for the presence of tannins,
saponins, glycosides but negative for alkaloids. From TLC, the preparation was found to have 18
chemical compounds. Pharmacologically, the preparation had mild negative inotropic effect on
the rabbit heart and no effects on the rat diaphragm, rat uterus, guinea pig trachea and rabbit
ileum.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The herbal preparation had biologically
active chemical groups/ingredients. It also appeared to have some biological effects that could be
clinically useful to warrant the claims by the herbal practitioner that the preparation was effective
and use. Recommendations is that further research work should be done on the herbal
preparation and even other herbal preparations to identify the specific chemical compounds they
contain, to elucidate the structures of the compounds, to study their mechanisms of action and
even their sites of action in the body to come up with relevant data to support their safety and
effectiveness.