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Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera – Nature's Bounty

                   

 

Dr. Santosh Kumar Bakshi

e-mail: globalherbitech@yahoo.com

(www.skbakshi.com)

 

KNOW YOUR HERBS – 2

 

Aloe Vera – Nature's Bounty

Background

In the recent times the therapeutic potential of Medicinal/Aromatic plants has become a subject of great interest as more and more studies are being conducted globally to unravel their potential as medicaments for alleviating human ailments/sufferings by providing herbal based drugs. There is also an environmental "green think" trend which is motivating consumers to purchase all-natural products. Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller), member of Liliaceae family, is one such plant which  has a long history of usage globally and is now  gaining importance  for  its multiple usage as the plant possesses many consistently identifiable active compounds  and continues to be extensively studied.

 There are over 250 species of Aloe Vera found around the world. However, only two species are grown today commercially, with Aloe Vera (A. barbadensis Miller) and Aloe aborescens being the most popular in commerce.

 Aloe Vera, native to Africa, where it is known as "lily of the desert", is an evergreen perennial succulent plant, more like a cactus, growing up to a meter in height with green, compact/tightly packed, thick, fleshy triangular leaves having spikes on the leaf edges. The leaves, having  commercial importance, are radially arranged in two to three circles and grow from the base of the plant  in the rosette pattern .Each leaf is 30-50 cm long and 8-12 cm broad at the base. Each matured plant usually has around 12 leaves that may weigh more than a kilogram. The adult plants can be harvested every 6 to 8 weeks by removing 3 to 4 leaves per plant.

 Aloe Vera has a very long and illustrious history and is virtually linked to human civilization for its usage in various forms. Earlier records reveal that Egyptians used aloe for curing infections, treating skin problems and as a laxative. Alexander the Great was reportedly using it topically on his soldiers for wound healing and on the advice of Aristotle, he captured the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean to secure aloe supplies to treat his wounded soldiers. The Hindu people thought that Aloe Vera grew in the Garden of Eden and named it the ‘silent healer'. In India, it is known as ghikawar, gwarpatha or ghritakumari andin Jammu we call it as Kunwargandhal.The Chinese doctors of old thought called it ‘harmonic remedy' for having therapeutic properties.  In China the juice of Aloe was used to wipe out all rashes.   The Russians called Aloe Vera ‘the Elixir of Longevity'.  The native American Indians used Aloe for its emollient and rejuvenating powers.

 Owing to its skin care attributes, Cleopatra was said to include aloe cream in her beauty regimen to keep her skin soft and young. Hippocrates and Arab physicians used Aloe in various forms and Spanish explorers carried it to the Western Hemisphere. Aloin, a compound present in the fresh Aloe leaf, in combination with myrrh, was used in Biblical times for their highly perfected art of embalming.

 In Mexico the juice was used to treat skin complaints and wounds. In Central and South America people used the juice as an insect repellant and for various medicinal treatments. In the first century AD the Greek physician Dioscorides (41-68 AD),who gained most of his knowledge about Aloe Vera, while traveling with the Roman armies,wrote in his ‘Materia Medica' that the Aloe Vera extract could be used to treat burns, wounds, stomach complaints, constipation, hemorrhoids, headaches, all mouth problems, hair loss, insect bites, kidney ailments and skin irritations. These discoveries of Aloe were confirmed by Pliney the Elder, a physician from 23-79 AD, in his ‘Natural History'.  Galen (AD 131-201), a physician to a Roman emperor, used Aloe Vera as a healing agent. He gained his knowledge from doctoring the Roman gladiators.  Galen followed after the works of Hippocrates and Aristotle. In the 7th century the Chinese Materia Medicas  mentiones  using  of Aloe Vera for sinusitis and other skin conditions.

  

 What is great about Aloe Vera

The aloe leaf contains over 75 nutrients and 200 active compounds, including 20

minerals, 18 amino acids, and 12 vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E), Folic acid and Niacin. These vitamins help in building the body's immune system against infections. Besides, it has a high enzyme content (about 92 enzymes), which makes it a rare and valuable resource as the enzymes help the body absorb basic nutrients while also purifying it.

 Aloe Vera Gel(or mucilage) present in the fresh leaf is 99% water with a pH of 4.5.It  has gained prominence as a commodity used as a base for nutritional drinks, as a moisturizer, and a healing agent in cosmetics and OTC drugs.

 

The Gel contains:

 Polysaccharides: glucomannan and acemannan

Glucomannan is a good moisturizer, which accounts for its use in many cosmetics.

Acemannan, the major carbohydrate fraction in the gel, is a water-soluble long chain mannose polymer which accelerates wound healing, modulates immune function and demonstrates antineoplastic and antiviral effects. The gel also contains bradykininase, an anti-inflammatory agent.

• Other include  carboxypeptidase, magnesium, zinc, calcium, glucose, cholesterol, salicylic acid prostaglandin precursors (gamma-linolenic acid [GLA]), vitamins A, C, E, lignins, saponins, plant sterols and amino acids.Magnesium lactate, which helps prevent itching, and salicylic acid and other antiprostaglandin compounds which relieve inflammation

  

The Leaf latex (resin or sap) contains:

 

• Anthraquinone glycosides: aloin, aloe-emodin, barbaloin (15% -30%) that are potent stimulant laxatives stronger than any other herb including Senna but need to be taken under the prescription of a medical practioner due to side effects like cramping and nausea.

 Current Growing places

Aloe Vera (A. barbadensis) is commonly found in wild state or being grown in warm, dry regions, especially Southern Europe, Asia and Africa. Habitats described include the area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, some parts of the southwestern United States (Southern Texas), Southern Australia, and the eastern and southern parts of Africa. In India the plant is mainly found in Rajasthan and other dry belts. Initially known as a weed, it has naturalized in the warmer and dry parts of India and is being grown in coastal areas of Mumbai, Gujarat, Rajasthan and South India. In Jammu, a local NGO has taken up its cultivation. The plant has a life span of 12 years.

 

 Present Status  

 Aloe Vera lost its potential for healing when some importing countries did not find its efficacy because the pulp worked best only when fresh.  This hindered Aloe Vera's reputation in the medical community.  Europe and North America's medical profession quit using Aloe Vera and replaced it with drugs.  The scientists determined that the oxidation process hindered the healing properties of Aloe Vera. However, Aloe gained its revival in the United States in the 1930's with reports of its success in treating X-ray(radiation) burns.  By the 1970's there was a breakthrough in processing techniques that led to, successfully; stabilizing the efficacy of  the leaf gel by using natural ingredients and cold pressing.  Further, processes were developed to separate the rind and Aloin.  These new found processing techniques have created a new market for Aloe vera.

Today its gel is an active ingredient in hundreds of skin lotions, sun blocks and

Cosmetics and the products are now used with great acceptance. The gel's use in cosmetics has been boosted by claims that it has similar anti-aging effects to vitamin A derivatives. Aloe Vera lotion, Aloe Vera creams, Aloe Vera gel and Aloe Vera natural bathing bars are some of its products in the market. Pregnant women have been known to use Aloe Vera lotion and Aloe Vera gel to make strechmarks disappear. It has been found good for the generation of collagen and elastin that are needed for skin repair .In hair care, Aloe Vera based shampoos are gaining importance as Aloe Vera acts as a natural hair conditioner. It is also reported to have antifungal and anti bacterial properties.

 

Besides Gel, Aloe Vera juice has also emerged as a valuable product. The benefits of Aloe Vera juice, to be taken orally, include:

 

-  provides vitamins, minerals and sugars to the body

-  improves the absorption of nutrients and vitamins

-  strengthens the immune system

-  lowers the cholesterol level

-  helps in overcoming arthritis, asthma and diabetes

-  may help with constipation, diarrhea and other intestinal problems

 Recently, Aloe extracts have been used to treat canker sores, stomach ulcers and even AIDS. Some natural health enthusiasts promote aloe gel as a cleansing juice. Some naturopaths promote aloe juice as a way to prevent and treat renal stones.

  Aloe vera products constitute, currently, a multi-billion dollar business world wide. Sales are hopping with new Aloe based products taking centre stage in the Skin care market. For thousands of years Aloe vera was part of legends but today it plays a role to help improve health and nutrition.

About the Author

Dr.Santosh Kumar Bakshi, Ph.D.(Botany) is a freelance consultant in the area of Herbal Developement. Dr. Bakshi, an ex-Senior Scientist, Regional Research Laboratory, Jammmu (CSIR New Delhi,India) brings with him more than three decades of experience in the area of Research and Developemen of Medicinal, Aromatic and High value plants of alpine, temperate and tropical regions of India.During his tenure with RRL, he has brought several publications.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 at 7:00 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.