Title : Aloe leaf juice as a basis for antiseptic-enhanced wound healing agents in wartime
Abstract:
In wartime, the need for effective wound healing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents becomes particularly urgent. Herbal remedies are of special interest due to their affordability, broad pharmacological profile, and suitability for extemporaneous preparation. Among them, Aloe arborescens, widely cultivated as an indoor plant, have attracted significant attention due to its wound healing, regenerative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral properties, making it highly valuable for topical application. To enhance antimicrobial effectiveness and broaden therapeutic potential, a novel combined preparation was developed by supplementing Krantz Aloe juice, a source of several medicines, registered currently in Ukraine, with povidone iodine, a broad-spectrum antiseptic effective against bacteria, fungi, viruses, spores, and protozoa, without risk of antimicrobial resistance or cross-resistance. The juice form was chosen for its ease of preparation, preservation of the natural phytocomplex, and suitability for topical delivery. The resulting formulation provides synergistic wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic effects. It is proposed for external use in the form of irrigations, wet compresses, or bandages for wounds, burns, trophic ulcers, pressure sores, and other skin lesions. Combining plant juice with conventional antiseptics offers a practical and resource-efficient strategy for developing innovative wound healing agents. Aloe-based phytopharmaceuticals, particularly in combination with povidone iodine, represent a promising direction for expanding effective topical therapies, especially under conditions of limited resources and urgent medical needs. This approach provides a scientific and practical basis for the development of novel phytopharmaceuticals for topical application, combining the regenerative properties of Aloe leaf juice with the antiseptic strength of povidone iodine. The obtained formulation may serve as a foundation for further preclinical and clinical studies, optimization of dosage forms, and elaboration of draft quality control methods for herbal substances derived from Aloe.
