African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (20), pp. 2406-2410, 18 October 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Traditional use, antibacterial activity and antifungal activity of crude extract of Aloe excelsa

R. M. Coopoosamy¹* and M. L. Magwa²

¹Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, ALICE, 5700, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

²Electron Microscopic Unit, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, ALICE, 5700, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: rcoopoosamy@ufh.ac.za. Tel.: +27 40 602 2325; Fax: +27 86 628 2841.

Accepted 29 June, 2007

The fleshy leaves and roots of most species within the Aloe family are used in many traditional treatments (Mabberley, 1987). Traditional healers and indigenous people utilize mainly the leaf sap of this genus widely for the treatment of wounds, burns, rashes, itches, cracked lips and cracked skin (Cera et al., 1980). Antimicrobial activities on the crude extract of Aloe exclesa was carried out in attempts to validate the use by traditional healers in the use of there latex and gel exudates for various medicinal ailments.

Key words: Aloeaceae, Aloe excelsa, antimicrobial, traditional healers.