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Scientific investigations on Aloe vera have gained more attention over the last several decades due to its reputable medicinal properties. Some publications have appeared in reputable Scientific Journals that have made appreciable contributions to the discovery of the functions and utilizations of Aloe-"nature's gift" Chemical analysis reveals that Aloe vera contains various carbohydrate polymers, notably glucomannans, along with a range of other organic and inorganic components. Although many physiological properties of Aloe vera have been described, it still remains uncertain as to which of the component(s) is responsible for these physiological properties. Further research needs to be done to unravel the myth surrounding the biological activities and the functional properties of A. vera. Appropriate processing techniques should be employed during the stabilization of the gel in order to affect and extend its field of utilization.
Keywords chemical composition, gel stabilization, biological activity
I. INTRODUCTION
Aloe is a tropical or subtropical plant characterized by lance-shaped leaves with jagged edges and sharp points. It has a history of use in folk medicine for skin and other disorders, which date back thousands of years.1,2 Today, the processing of A. vera gel, derived from the leaf pulp of the plant for medicinal and cosmetic use, has become a big worldwide industry.
For centuries, this plant has been used for its medicinal and therapeutic properties without any clear understanding or scientific analysis of the basis for such properties.
In spite of the confusing scientific literature, together with a number of contradictory reports on this plant, it is still undoubtedly one of the few botanical medications with widespread domestic use in Western society. However, due to the lack of knowledge of the Aloe plant and its characteristics, most methods employed for the processing of the plant and its component result in end products that do not consistently achieve desired results.4
Generally, the production process of Aloe products involve crushing, grinding, or pressing of the entire leaf of the Aloe plant to produce an A. vera juice, followed by various steps of filtration and stabilization of the juice.3,4 The resulting solution is then incorporated in or mixed with other solulions or agents to produce a pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or food product.4
In the food industry, A. vera has been utilized as a...