VChakkarakolli (Gymnema Sylvestre) Extracts in the Stabilization of Aloe Vera Gel

An experiment was conducted in the Dept. of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, during 2016 -17 for the development of a protocol for the stabilization of fresh aloe gel using chakkarakolli (Gymnema sylvestre) extracts. Fresh aloe gel samples were treated with three forms of chakkarakolli extracts, in order to find out their efficiency in the stabilization of aloe gel. Preliminary observations on pH and conductivity for a period of one week revealed the efficiency of certain treatments in maintaining a stable pH and conductivity, and the TSS and Vit C content of such promising treatments with agreeable visual quality and odour were analyzed for a period of one month, and were compared with fresh aloe gel and also with aloe gel treated with a chemical preservative (sodium benzoate) as control. 5ml and 3ml chakkarakolli alcoholic extract treated samples recorded significantly superior values compared to control, up to two weeks of storage, which declined later. After two weeks of storage, assessment of microbial load of the samples revealed no bacterial, fungal, actinomycetes and E.coli colonies in aloe gel samples treated with 5ml alcoholic extract of chakkarakolli.