Identification and standardisation of commercial sibr' [Aloes] a cancer agglutinative drug

ABSTRACT

The 'Sibr' [Aloes], which is one of the earliest known purgatives used in Unani System of Medicine, is botanically the dried leaf juice of the plant Aloe barbadensis Miller. Results of the recent research work have induced a revival of interest in this drug as it has shown anti-inflammatory, cancer agglutinating and radiation injury healing activities. Procuring genuine Sibr, the most efficacious among all aloes, is a difficult problem as all other varieties, morphologically indistinguishable, are also available in the crude drug's market under the common name aloes. A detailed study on botanical characteristics, physicochemical constants and phytochemical colour reactions [qualitative chemical tests] of two commercial samples of Sibr has, therefore, been carried out as this will facilitate identification, standardization and evaluation of these samples as well as other commercial samples. The parameters described and discussed in this communication include macroscopic characters, microscopical study of the powdered drug mounted in lactophenol, total ash, acid insoluble ash, solid contents, water soluble matters, aloin contents and qualitative chemical tests, besides T.L.C. patterns of successive extracts and fluorescence characteristics under U.V. light