Nutraceutical and Medicinal Uses of Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) : Uses of Aloe Vera

Madiha Khan Niazi; Muhammad Usama Maooz Awan; Syed Zahoor-Ul-Hassan Zaidi; Quratul Ain Shahid; Talha Ahmed; Ayesha Aslam; Sahar Imran; Farooq Hassan; Muhammad Amjed Ismail; Wajeeha Abid

doi:10.54393/df.v4i03.100

Authors

Madiha Khan Niazi The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Usama Maooz Awan The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Syed Zahoor-Ul-Hassan Zaidi Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan
Quratul Ain Shahid The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Talha Ahmed Sialkot Medical College, Sialkot, Pakistan
Ayesha Aslam The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Sahar Imran The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Farooq Hassan Punjab Healthcare Commission, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Amjed Ismail Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan
Wajeeha Abid Karachi University, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/df.v4i03.100

Keywords:

Aloe Vera, Phytocomponents, Aloins, Health Benefits, Nutraceutical Potential

Abstract

This article elucidates the medicinal and pharmacological properties of Aloe vera, a widely recognized plant that thrives in semi-arid climates found in tropical and subtropical areas. The potential medical, therapeutic, and nutritional nutraceutical applications of A. vera components are highlighted in this article. Plants are grown for their agricultural, medicinal, and decorative qualities when kept indoors in pots. Plants are an excellent source of chemical components that exhibit a broad range of biological functions. One of Aloe Vera's most bioactive polysaccharide, acemannane, is known to modulate immunity and have anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, bone-healing, neuroprotective, and intestinal health-promoting properties. Since the beginning of time, people have employed the mucilaginous gel created by the parenchymal cells in the aloe vera pulp for a number of therapeutic purposes. Aloe vera has been utilized as a nutraceutical for many years. This page highlights significant applications of A. vera components as medicines and therapeutic foods. Aloe vera gel showed the presence of over 200 phytochemicals. Aloe vera gel is taken from the plant's leaves, and the final goods must be stabilized and prepared using the proper processing methods.

References

Vitale S, Colanero S, Placidi M, Di Emidio G, Tatone C, Amicarelli F et al. Phytochemistry and biological activity of medicinal plants in wound healing: an overview of current research. Molecules. 2022 Jun; 27(11): 3566. doi: 10.3390/molecules27113566. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27113566

Guo X and Mei N. Aloe vera: A review of toxicity and adverse clinical effects. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part C. 2016 Apr; 34(2): 77-96. doi: 10.1080/10590501.2016.1166826. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10590501.2016.1166826

Javed S. Aloe vera gel in food, health products, and cosmetics industry. Studies in Natural Products Chemistry. 2014 Jan; 41: 261-85. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-63294-4.00009-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-63294-4.00009-7

Pothuraju R, Sharma RK, Onteru SK, Singh S, Hussain SA. Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Aloe vera extract preparations: A review. Phytotherapy Research. 2016 Feb ;30(2) :200-7. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5532. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5532

Sánchez M, González-Burgos E, Iglesias I, Gómez-Serranillos MP. Pharmacological update properties of Aloe vera and its major active constituents. Molecules. 2020 Mar; 25(6): 1324. doi: 10.3390/molecules25061324. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25061324

López Z, Núñez-Jinez G, Avalos-Navarro G, Rivera G, Salazar-Flores J, Ramírez JA et al. Antioxidant and cytotoxicological effects of Aloe vera food supplements. Journal of Food Quality. 2017 Jan ;2017: 10. doi: 10.1155/2017/7636237. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7636237

Upadhyay RK. Nutraceutical, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical potential of Aloe vera: A review. International Journal of Green Pharmacy (IJGP). 2018 May;12(01).

Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final report on the safety assessment of Aloe andongensis extract, aloe andongensis leaf juice, aloe arborescens leaf extract, aloe arborescens leaf juice, aloe arborescens leaf protoplasts, aloe barbadensis flower extract, aloe barbadensis leaf, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, aloe barbadensis leaf polysaccharides, aloe barbadensis leaf water, aloe ferox leaf extract, aloe ferox leaf juice, and aloe ferox leaf juice extract. International Journal of Toxicology. 2007;26 (2):1-50. doi: 10.1080/10915810701351186. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10915810701351186

Maenthaisong R, Chaiyakunapruk N, Niruntraporn S, Kongkaew C. The efficacy of aloe vera used for burn wound healing: a systematic review. Burns. 2007 Sep; 33(6): 713-8. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2006.10.384. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2006.10.384

Serrano M, Valverde JM, Guillén F, Castillo S, Martínez-Romero D, Valero D. Use of Aloe vera gel coating preserves the functional properties of table grapes. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2006 May; 54: 3882-6. doi: 10.1021/jf060168p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jf060168p

Gupta RC, Srivastava A, Lall R. Toxicity potential of nutraceuticals. Computational Toxicology: Methods and Protocols. 2018: 367-94. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7899-1_18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7899-1_18

Eshun K and He Q. Aloe vera: A valuable ingredient for the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries-a review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2004 Mar; 44: 91-6. doi: 10.1080/10408690490424694. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10408690490424694

Samantar O. Shining Sun and Blissful Wind: Access to ICT Solutions in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa Through Access to Renewable Sources. Sustainable Development Law & Policy. 2012; 12(3): 9.

Surjushe A, Vasani R, Saple DG. Aloe vera: A short review. Indian Journal of Dermatology. 2008; 53: 163-6. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.44785. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5154.44785

Basannavar S, Pothuraju R, Sharma RK. Effect of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) on survivability, extent of proteolysis and ACE inhibition of potential probiotic cultures in fermented milk. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2014 Oct; 94: 2712-7. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6615. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.6615

Saito M, Tanaka M, Misawa E, Yamada M, Yamauchi K, Iwatsuki K. Aloe vera gel extract attenuates ethanol-induced hepatic lipid accumulation by suppressing the expression of lipogenic genes in mice. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. 2012 Nov; 76: 2049-54. doi: 10.1271/bbb.120393. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1271/bbb.120393

Zhong J, Huang Y, Ding W, Wu X, Wan J, Luo H. Chemical constituents of Aloe barbadensis miller and their inhibitory effects on phosphodiesterase-4D. Fitoterapia.et 2013 Dec; 91: 159-65. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2013.08.027. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2013.08.027

Reyes JE, Guanoquiza MI, Tabilo-Munizaga G, Vega-Galvez A, Miranda M, Pérez-Won M. Microbiological stabilization of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) gel by high hydrostatic pressure treatment. International Journal of Food Microbiology. 2012 Sep; 158: 218-24. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2012.07.019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2012.07.019

Shao A, Broadmeadow A, Goddard G, Bejar E, Frankos V. Safety of purified decolorized (low anthraquinone) whole leaf Aloe vera (L) burm. F. Juice in a 3-month drinking water toxicity study in F344 rats. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2013 Jul; 57: 21-31. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.03.002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.03.002

Yadav H and Jain S. Herbo-probiotic therapy in cardioprotection: A new way of nature to nurture. Nutrition. 2013 Jul; 29: 1070-1. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2012.11.001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2012.11.001

Yang YM, Wang P, Zhang Y. A comparative study on the absorption kinetics parameters of rhubarb free anthraquinones between normal dogs and dogs with severe acute pancreatitis. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jiehe Zazhi= Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine. 2012 Apr; 32: 494-8.

Lee S, Do SG, Kim SY, Kim J, Jin Y, Lee CH. Mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling and antioxidant activity of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) in different growth stages. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2012 Nov; 60: 11222-8. doi: 10.1021/jf3026309. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jf3026309

Sehgal I, Winters WD, Scott M, David A, Gillis G, Stoufflet T et al. Toxicologic assessment of a commercial decolorized whole leaf Aloe vera juice, lily of the desert filtered whole leaf juice with aloesorb. Journal of Toxicology. 2013 Mar; 2013: 802453. doi: 10.1155/2013/802453. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/802453