The mysterious Aloe vera has been a source for healing since Old
Testament times, and a Texas A&M University researcher is trying
to uncover just what the substances are in the plant that work
wonders and how they do it so that more might be learned about
treating wounds. Dr. Ian Tizard, a professor of immunology in
the College of Veterinary Medicine, is studying a special
polysaccharide, the substance that forms along cell walls of the
Aloe vera, to see how it performs its healing tricks. The Aloe
vera is native to North Africa but now can be found almost
worldwide, Tizard says. A succulent, it thrives in warm and dry
climates very much like cactus does. But unlike its prickly
cactus cousin, Aloe vera is in a class by itself when it comes
to certain healing properties. There are more than 100 species
of aloe, but Tizard says Aloe vera is the one that has drawn the
most scientific interest. "When Aloe vera is placed on many
types of wounds, such as bedsores, it can often heal the wound
quickly, and the likely