Phytochemistry of Aloe Vera and its Therapeutic Benefits: An Overview

Authors: Sunita Lega

Country: India

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Abstract: Aloe vera belongs to the family Liliaceae commonly known as Ghrit Kumari and popular for its medicinal properties. The name Aloe vera derives from the Arabic word “Alloeh” meaning shining bitter substance. Phytochemistry of Aloe Vera gel has revealed the presence of more than 200 bioactive chemical constituents: vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids and amino acids, which are responsible for the multifunctional activity of Aloe. The Aloe vera leaf gel contains about 98% water. The total solid content of Aloe vera gel is 0.66% and soluble solids are 0.56% with some seasonal fluctuation. On dry matter basis aloe gel consists of polysaccharides (53%), sugars (17%), minerals (16%), proteins (7%), lipids (5%) and phenolic compounds (2%). Aloe verais used for vigor, wellness and medicinal purposes since Rigvedic times.Aloe vera plants are mostly used in medicinal practices that are quite different in their chemical composition and their therapeutic properties, such as wound healing, psoriasis, genital herpes, intestinal problems, heal gastric ulcers, increasing high density lipoprotein (HDL), reducing low density lipoprotein (LDL), reducing blood sugar in diabetics, cancer, fighting against acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS), allergies and improving immune system. Aloe vera possesses several pharmacological properties such as promoting and healing wound and burn, frost-bite healing, with addition to having anti-inflammatory, antifungal, hypoglycemic and gastroprotective properties. This review explored the phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge as well as several promising aspects for research on aloe.

Keywords: Aloe Vera, Kumari, Ghritakumari, Phytochemical, Therapeutic

Paper Id: 1708

Published On: 2017-02-21

Published In: Volume 5, Issue 1, January-February 2017

Cite This: Phytochemistry of Aloe Vera and its Therapeutic Benefits: An Overview - Sunita Lega - IJIRMPS Volume 5, Issue 1, January-February 2017.

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