Plant Pathology Journal1812-53871812-5425Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ppj.2007.169.173Aloe vera Due to Fungal Infection]]>PritamAmruta KalePurushottam G.2200762Under most pathological conditions there is generation of reactive oxygen species and other free radicals. These, in turn, alter the structure and functions of bimolecules, the accumulation of which is responsible for reversible or irreversible damage to the tissue. Ageing too involves identical oxidative damage to the cells and tissues. Though the cells have an inherent ability to counter the oxidative stress, a variety of herbs are employed in strengthening this. Aloe vera is one of these herbs capable of enhancing the antioxidant defenses of the subject and is commonly employed as general detoxifier and in the treatment of surface wounds skin infection, arthritis, asthma, liver disorders, kidney infection and many more ailments. Undesirable consequences may, however, result from use of herbs infected by certain fungi. Aloe vera infected with Alternaria alternata, a deuteromycete fungus which is known to cause allergy and asthma in man, was encountered. To ascertain the effect of infection of leaves of Aloe vera by Alternaria alternate, the current study was planned. The free radicals were generated using chemical system and the ability of the healthy plant, infected plant and fungal biomass in scavenging them was assayed. It was noted that the antioxidant potential of the herb diminished due to the infection by A. alternate. This emphasizes the need to screen the medicinal plants before they are used for therapeutic preparation.]]>Ajabnoor, M.A.,199028215220Aneja, K.R.,1993Tiwari, A.K.,20038511111117Capasso, F., F. Borrelli, R. Capasso, G. Di Carlo and A.A. Izzo et al.,199812S124S127Chang, C.C., M.H. Yang, H.M. Wen and J.C. Chern,20022002Chitra, P., G.B. Sajithlal and G. Chandrakasan,1998Aloe vera on the glycoasaminoglycans in the matrix of healing wounds in rats.]]>59179186Dong-Jiann, H., C.D. Lin, H.J. Chen and L. Yaw-Huei,2004Ipomoea batatas [L.] lam. Tainong 57) constituent.]]>45179186Flohe, L. and F. Otting,19841059393Govindarajan, R., M. Vijayakumar, A.K.S. Rawat and S. Mehrotra,2003Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth.]]>41875879Govindarajan, R., M. Vijaykumar, C.V. Rao, A. Shirwaikar, A.K.S. Rawat, S. Mehrotra and P. Pushpangadan,2004Anogeissus latifolia.]]>2712661269Gupta, S. and A. Masood,2003Aloe vera Linn. Syn. Aloe barbadenisis Mill.) caused by Alternaria alternata.]]>2003Iwasa and Torri,1962268787Jianping, Y., W. Suwei, L.S. Stephen, S. Yi and B. Leon et al.,19992743497434980Koo, M.W.L.,1994Aloe vera: Antiulcer and antidiabetic effects.]]>8461464Liu, F. and T.B. Ng,200066725735Mualik, G., V.E. Kagan, S. Pakrashi, Maulik and D.K. Das,19991999Ohkawa, H., N. Ohishi and K. Yagi,197995351358Saito, H.,1993Aloe arborescens Miller and their biological pharmacological activity.]]>7S14S19Khanam, S., H.N. Shivaprasad and K. Devi,2004In vitro antioxidant screening models: A review.]]>38180183Wang, S.Y. and H. Jiao,20004856775684Shreejayan, N. and M.N.A. Rao,199749105105Singleton, V.L. and J.A. Rossi,196516144158Sumanont, Y., Y. Murakami, M. Tohda, O. Vajragupta, K. Matsumoto and H. Watanabe,200427170173