ABSTRACT:
Aloe vera is a plant that belongs to Liliaceae family. The name Aloe derives from the Arabic word “Alloeh” meaning shining bitter substance while “vera” in Latin means true.There are more than 300 species of the aloe-plant, but the Aloe barbadensis species exhibits the best medicinal properties. Aloe vera contains various minerals and vitamins and has got various properties such as immunomodulatory, antiviral and anti inflammatory in nature. The Greek scientists regarded Aloe vera as the universal panacea. It has its uses in various systemic conditions like skin disorders, bowel disorders, diabetes and in hyperlipidemic patients. It has also been used in dentistry for its beneficial properties in various conditions like lichen planus, apthous stomatitis, oral submucous fibrosis, pulpotomy of primary teeth, prevention of dry sockets, obturation of primary teeth, disinfection of irrigation units, bleeding and painful gums, disinfection of gutta percha cones, burning mouth syndrome and in radiated head and neck cancer patients.