Aloe-Vera-Extract-Promotes-Hair-Growth-in-Experimental-Mice-1

Aloe vera is known for its medicinal benefits and is a widely used plant in some remedies even in hair growth. To test the village wisdom, extract of aloe Vera was applied on 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.

By Abdullah G Arijo and Rabia Sultana

Humans have many issues related to hairs, such as hair loss, thinning, excessive dryness, itchiness around the scalp, dandruff, and many more. Such issues are the 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 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 (DagneHYPERLINK “http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92765/” 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.

Experimental Animal Facility of Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam

Aloe vera gel also repairs dry and damaged hair in a short period 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 topical application of Aloe vera gel. My team conducted a trial at Animal House of faculty ff animal husbandry and veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam.  The Aloe vera was collected from the faculty garden of 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 were 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 the 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 (as shown in fig 2). The result indicates that the hair growth in mice treated with Aloe Vera was started after the 5 days of treatment while control showed no hair growth.

After the 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 (As shown in fig 3)

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 (as shown in fig 4). The control took 20 days for the complete growth of hair and the experimental group took 15 days in the experimental group. This indicated that Aloe Vera is highly effective and increase the growth of hair. 

 

Comparison of Control and Aloe Vera treated Mice.

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Control Group            Experimental group

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