Aloe vera (a member of the lily family) is known worldwide for its healing properties. This “medicine chest” plant is succulent and needs very little water to survive. Its botanical name is Aloe barbadensis and it originated in South Africa. Today there are about 400 different species, most of which have similar characteristics depending on the climate and soil conditions.
Active ingredients
Aloe contains more than 200 different biologically active substances, most of which are in the inner gel (latex) of the leaves. In addition to a large amount of water (99 percent), the leaves contain more than 75 active medicinal compounds, including proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, polysaccharides (polymannans, including acemannan), phenols, and organic acids. Secondary metabolites are anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering, and antioxidant anthraquinones.
Therapeutic use
Healing of burns and wounds: When applied to the affected area, aloe speeds up the healing of burns and wounds. Research has shown that it heals burns faster than one percent silver sulfadiazine (the standard pharmaceutical treatment). It is also useful for treating sunburn and radiation burns.
Immune system: Aloe gel has powerful broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory activity, reducing the production of inflammatory cytokines both extrinsically and intrinsically. It also inhibits both cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) inflammatory pathways in human cells.
Gastrointestinal system: Aloe vera has been used to increase the absorption of various drugs, especially in those with poor digestive function and abnormal intestinal microflora. Its anti-inflammatory activity inhibits intestinal polyps and the migration of colon cancer cells. Anthraquinones are also mild laxatives. Aloe gel reduces the symptoms of stomach ulcers primarily with its antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori. It is also effective when antibiotics are used for this condition. In the mouth, it reduces the pain and inflammation of recurrent stomatitis (mouth ulcers) and increases healing.
Metabolic syndrome: Aloe contains five phytosterol compounds that reduce visceral fat accumulation, have a positive effect on glucose and lipid metabolism, and improve insulin delivery. Clinical trials show that it can work safely to lower glucose and cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes. In one trial, this plant supplement reduced body weight, body weight, and insulin resistance in obese diabetic patients, improving both fasting and random blood glucose levels. Triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL were significantly reduced.
Cardiovascular system: Aloe vera contains measurable levels of antioxidants, including vitamin E, carotenoids, vitamin C, and flavonoids, and these antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds have cardioprotective activity. A combination of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus and aloe gel has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels, thereby reducing cardiovascular risk.
Liver: Phytosterols in aloe have the ability to reduce fatty acid synthesis and oxidation in the liver, reduce abdominal fat and improve cholesterol and fat metabolism, as well as prevent the liver from alcoholism.
Cancer: The anthraquinone, aloin, has been documented for its therapeutic potential in cancer, showing chemoprotective effects and reducing angiogenesis. Other compounds have shown antiproliferative effects, inducing apoptosis in various cancer cells. Studies have shown positive effects in squamous cell cancer, colon and bladder cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, and neurological cancer.
Antimicrobial activity: Aloe gel is a known antibacterial and antifungal agent and has been shown to be effective against mycoplasma, various species of candida, Helicobacter pylori, and both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Polysaccharides have shown direct antibacterial activity by stimulating white phagocytic cells to destroy pathogens.
Antiviral activity: Compounds in aloe gel prevent the virus from absorbing, attaching to, or entering the host cell. They have antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 2 and influenza A and have been shown to be helpful in improving the immune system of HIV-infected individuals by increasing CD4 T cells.
Use of aloe
Aloe vera is commonly used topically as a cream or gel, or internally as a drinkable gel (juice). If you grow it at home, remove the leaf gel with the skin and the yellow “juice”. Despite the wide use of aloe for many therapeutic purposes, minimal toxicity has been shown at recommended doses. Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties. These uses are largely supported by research today. It can be an invaluable herbal remedy both internally and externally, and for its effectiveness in healing burns and skin wounds, it deserves a place in every first aid kit.
This article is in Journal of Wellbeing 222
