Aloe Properties

Frequently the aloe plants are cultivated as ornamental plants. But the main wild or commercial cultivated aloe species, used basically in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, beauty, toiletry, food and beverages industries are the following:

• Aloe Vera (Barbadensis miller)
• Aloe Saponaria
• Aloe Arborescens Miller
• Aloe Ferox
• Aloe Perryi (Socotra)
• Aloe Chinensis

Human use of Aloes are primarily as a herbal remedy in alternative medicines and "home first aid". It is very common to have an aloe plant in your garden or inside your house, usually in the kitchen. Both the translucent inner pulp (inner aloe gel) as well as the resinous yellow exudate known as aloe bitter or aloe sap, are used externally to relieve skin discomforts and internally as a laxative.

To date, much research has shown aloe having different positive medicinal benefits for external and internal uses. In the research section of this site we offer extensive information about that.

In the United States and United Kingdom, the Aloe vera has been and is yet the most studied and used variety; whereas in Japan and the Far East the Aloe arborescens miller, the Aloe Chinensis and the Aloe saponaria are also relevant. Most plantations of Aloe ferox are located in Southern Africa.

The more used part of the aloe plants are their leaves and in particular their internal products. Most abundant of them is a gelatinous yellowish colorless transparent gel.

The aloe gel is liquid, transparent and a colorless one composed mainly by water in approximately a 98% of its weight. The remaining 2% of weight, that it would obtain by elimination of the water, are a complex mixture of chemical substances, some of which already isolated and have been identified, knowing its farmacological and cosmetological effects.

Constituents

Amino Acids

Aloe provides 20 of the 22 human required amino acids and 7 of the 8 essential ones. The amino acids provides the basic building blocks of proteins in the production of muscle tissue etc, and the human body cannot manufacture them.

Anthraquinones

Aloe provides 12 anthraquinones: Aloe emodin, Aloetic Acid, Aloin, Anthracine, Antranol, Barbaloin, Chrysophanic Acid, Emodin, Ethereal Oil, Ester of Cinnamonic Acid, Isobarbaloin, Resistannol.

In relatively small concentrations together with the Gel fraction they provide Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antifungal and Antiviral activity. In high concentration on their own they can be toxic. Are also known as aloe bitter, aloe bitter sap, aloe gum, or aloe laxatives.