Aloe Vera gel as nutrient supplement for wound healing

Nadeesha Warnasuriya and Disna Mudalige

Natural Aloe Vera gel can be used as a medium to incorporate the essential metals for enhancing wound healing as claimed by Dr. Janitha A. Liyanage of the University of Kelaniya, Faculty of Science presenting their research outcome at the issue of a compendium of research funded by the National Research Council (NRC) in its 10 years service to the Nation.

“The effects of essential metal imbalance on wound healing will be studied in this work which will elucidate the role of dietary trace element deficiency to develop a topically applied nutrient supplement using Aloe Vera gel,” Dr Liyanage added.

Nearly half of patients in surgical wards suffer from problems related to wound healing and nutritional factors are very important in these patients because of their waning appetite and psychologically impaired ability to absorb nutrients, she said.

This nutritional supplement can be used for wounded soldiers in the battlefront. Eventually the development of a topically nutrient supplement which is capable of transferring essential elements to the wound site to enhance wound healing will contribute to the national development by cutting off hospital expenditure and improved quality of life, Dr. Liyanage said.

NRC founded in 1999 by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga took initiatives to facilitate Sri Lankan researches in all branches of science. By a special warrant issued in July 2007, President Mahinda Rajapaksa restructured the NRC to provide local scientists with the opportunity to contribute their best to the development process of the country.