Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

What does Aloe Vera mean?

A century ago, the medicinal properties of Aloe Vera were recognized. The term Aloe derived from “Alloeh”, an Aerobic word, which means shining bitter substance, whereas Vera is a Latin term, which means true. The medicinal property of Aloe Vera was recognized by different civilizations, like almost 2000 years ago Greek medicinal scientist considered Aloe Vera as a universal panacea, similarly, Egyptians considered Aloe is “the plant of immortality.” 

How health benefits of Aloe Vera were discovered?

Aloe Vera achieved a position as an herbal medicinal ingredient in the traditional medicine of Greek, Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Mexican civilization. Aloe Vera was a routine royal beauty regimen. Aloe Vera is the secret of the beauty of Cleopatra. But Aloe Vera is not only used as aesthetic purpose, but King Alexander and Christopher Columbus also recommended Aloe Vera to treat wounds of their soldiers. In A.D. 1655, Dioscorides’ Medical treatise De Materia Medica referred Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera abundantly grows in the dry regions of Africa, Europe, America, and Asia.

In early 1800, American medicinal experts recognized the laxative property of Aloe Vera, but in mid of the 1930s, the skin benefits of Aloe Vera got the recognition when this herbal ingredient successfully treat chronic skin conditions as well as radiation-induced dermatitis. In the present century, Aloe Vera become a common herbal ingredient in dermatological products.

What are the phytochemicals present in Aloe Vera?

Scientifically Aloe Vera is known as Aloe barbadensis miller, which belongs to the Asphodelaceae family.

• Almost 75 different active ingredients are present in Aloe Vera. All essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids along with enzymes, sugars, salicylic acids, saponins, and lignin present in Aloe Vera exert a wide range of therapeutic benefits altogether.
• Both fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A and E and water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin C and choline present in Aloe Vera. 
• Different trace minerals like calcium, copper, chromium, manganese, magnesium, potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc are present in Aloe Vera. 
• Enzymes like amylase, bradykinesia, lipase, catalase, carboxypeptidase, cellulase, aliiase, alkaline phosphatase, and peroxidase are also present in Aloe Vera. 
• The mucilage layer of the Aloe Vera plant contains both monosaccharide and polysaccharide sugars. Mannose-6-phosphate and glucomannans are the two most common monosaccharide and polysaccharide present in Aloe Vera. 
• Aloe Vera contains 12 anthraquinones, among them Aloin and emodin provide significant therapeutic benefits.
• β-sitosterol, campesterol, cholesterol, and lupeol are four steroids containing fatty acid content in Aloe Vera. 
• Auxins and gibberellins are two hormones present in Aloe Vera as a bioactive ingredient.
• Except for Tryptophane, all other essential amino acids including Methionine, Histidine, Cystine, Tyrosine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Leucine, Arginine, Lysine, Proine, Threonine, Valine, Glutamine, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Aspartic acid, Asparagines and Glutamic acid present in Aloe Vera leaves. 
• Other significant bioactive phytochemicals present in Aloe Vera include Lignin, Saponins also add medicinal value to this herbal ingredient.

What is the Mode of action of health benefits of Aloe Vera?

Each and every phytochemical present in Aloe Vera follow a certain mechanism of action to prevent and cure diseases.

•Vitamins present in Aloe Vera have antioxidant properties, which reduces the free radicals burden in tissue labels.

•Bradykinase enzyme has significant anti-inflammatory properties and topical applications able to reduce skin inflammation. However, other enzyme contents involved in the sugar and fat metabolism process. This contributes to the benefits of aloe Vera benefits for the skin.

•Every mineral plays an important role in different enzyme systems, metabolic pathways and some acts as antioxidants.

•Alprogen a glycoprotein present in Aloe Vera has anti-allergic property. C-glucosyl chromone is a sugar moiety that has an anti-inflammatory property.

•Anthraquinones are phenolic compounds have laxative property, whereas aloin and emodin have analgesic, antibacterial and antiviral properties.

•All steroid compounds present in Aloe Vera have an anti-inflammatory effect. The fatty acid content, lupeol also has antiseptic and analgesic properties.

•Auxins and gibberellins are two hormones have wound healing property, but also imparts anti-inflammatory property.

•Salicylic acid present in Aloe Vera has both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Saponins exert anti-septic and cleansing properties.

Altogether Aloe Vera able to stimulates cellular proliferation and collagen production by activating growth factors, which accelerate wound healing activities. In addition, Aloe Vera not only increased collagen content in scar tissue but also alter the collagen composition and the degree of collagen cross-linking.

Administration of Aloe Vera preparation generates antioxidant protein, metallothionein in skin tissue, which has antioxidant properties and provides protection against UV radiation in exposure to sun rays. Aloe Vera also reduces the release of immunosuppressive cytokines derived from skin keratinocyte. Thus, it prevents hypersensitivity reaction, another one of the benefits of aloe Vera on skin. Application of Aloe Vera reduces prostaglandin E2 synthesis from arachidonic acid by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase pathway.

Aloe Vera enhances the mucus secretion, increases water content in the intestinal products and stimulates intestinal peristalsis. All these mechanisms act as a laxative.

Aloe Vera suppresses mast cell activation by inhibiting the antigen-antibody-mediated histamine and leukotriene release. In addition, the antioxidant property of Aloe Vera also reduces free radicals burden. Thus, this herb has a direct impact on the immune system.

Anthraquinone present in Aloe Vera inactivates certain viral growth including herpes simplex and influenza. Animal research showed Aloe gel has a chemo-preventive effect and also has anti-tumor activity by preventing the formation of potentially cancer-initiating benzopyrene-DNA adducts.

Mucopolysaccharides present in Aloe Vera helps to prevent loss of moisture from skin tissue and also helps to bind the natural moisture content in the skin. The cohesive effect of Aloe Vera gel also softens the skin. Zinc and amino acid content tighten skin pores, acts as astringent. Overall, the application of Aloe Vera reduces skin wrinkle formation by improving skin integrity.

Different Forms of Aloe Vera

• Benefits of Aloe Vera gel: used in cosmetic preparations and used as skin tonic and treatment for pimples.The Globo Surf has different forms of gel.
• Benefits of Aloe Vera juice: Boost immunity against many diseases and helps to reduce blood sugar level.
• Benefits of Aloe Vera leaf: The aloe Vera leaf powder is used in the food processing industry and added in yogurt and other food products preparation. The aloe Vera leaves are used as vegetables in many countries like India.
• Aloe seeds: Used to prepare bio-fuels.
• Aloe Pods: In some commodities, it is added in pickle preparations.
• Aloe leaf lining: Used as Laxatives.

Uses and Benefits of Aloe Vera

Traditional uses of Aloe Vera include bacterial and fungal dermatological infections, alopecia, chronic wound healing, arthritis, parasitic infections, and systemic lupus erythematosus. These uses are mainly theoretical, no study reference available to support these uses. However, some clinical and preclinical trial showed the efficacy of Aloe Vera in the following conditions:

• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Psoriasis Vulgaris
• Genital herpes
• Skin burns
• Type 2-diabetes
• HIV infection,
• Cancer prevention
• Ulcerative colitis
• Wound healing
• Pressure ulcers
• Mucositis
• Radiation dermatitis
• Acne vulgaris
• Lichen planus
• Frostbite
• Aphthous stomatitis
• Constipation

Aloe Vera Side effects

Aloe Vera side effects on skin: Topical application of aloe Vera gel usually safe, but the hypersensitive patient should check by applying in a small area. Some sensitive individuals may experience Aloe Vera gel side effects like burning or stinging sensation and redness. It rarely causes generalized dermatitis.

Aloe Vera juice side effects: Oral administration may cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, red urination. Prolong administration may cause dependency, electrolyte imbalances. Oral intake of Aloe Vera is not recommended during pregnancy and lactating women to avoid uterine contractions and gastrointestinal distress in nursing infants respectively. There are some aloe Vera side effects on the liver like hepatitis.

Hypersensitive individuals having an allergic tendency in exposure to Liliaceae family plant should avoid aloe Vera containing products.

Aloe Vera should not be used with the following medications:

• Steroids, as topical application of Aloe Vera gel, increases the absorption rate of steroid drugs through the skin surface.
• Cardiac medications such as digoxin and digitoxin should not take with Aloe Vera products, as the combination may increase the side effect burden and reduce the efficacy of the individual drugs due to the potassium lowering effect. 
• Diuretic medication like furosemide should not be taken with Aloe Vera, as it increases the risk of potassium depletion. 
• Diabetic patients who are under medication or insulin therapy should discuss with a doctor before administering Aloe Vera products, as it can cause a sudden lowering of blood sugar level.
• It is always better to discuss with your physician before introducing Aloe Vera for individuals having chronic conic conditions.

References

• Amar Surjushe, Resham Vasani, D G Saple. ALOE VERA: A SHORT REVIEW. Indian J Dermatol.
• Gajendra Mahor, Sharique A Ali. Recent update on the medicinal properties and use of Aloe Vera in the treatment of various ailments. Biosci. Biotech. Res. Comm.
• Seyyed et al. “The Review on Properties of Aloe Vera in Healing of Cutaneous Wounds,” BioMed Research International.
• Urvashi Nandal, Raju Lal Bhardwaj. Aloe Vera for human nutrition, health and cosmetic use -A review. International Research Journal of Plant Science.
• Sharrif Moghaddasi M, Sandeep Kumar Verma. Aloe Vera their chemicals composition and applications: A review. Int J Biol Med Res.