The aloe vera plant originated in Africa, where it has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Aloe vera is easy to grow and is a common houseplant. The gel within the leaves of the plant can be easily extracted to treat a variety of minor ailments.
Description
Aloe vera is a succulent that grows as a cluster of thick, fleshy, lance-shaped leaves that radiate from a central stem. The leaves are usually trimmed with sharp spines. The outer portion of the leaf has a waxy surface that prevents water loss. Beneath the outer layer is a sap layer. The gel itself is the thick, sticky, mucilaginous jelly that is located in the center of each leaf. It is transparent, often with a slightly green tint.
Processing
The gel is extracted commercially by harvesting mature leaves, then washing them in an antiseptic solution. The spiny edges of the leaves are removed. Each leaf is then filleted, most frequently by hand, but sometimes by machine, to remove the outer layers, including the sap layer. This leaves only the center with the gel. The gel can be further processed into juice or powder.
Properties
Aloe vera is thought to have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Research is under way to study the possible anti-cancer properties of aloe. In particular, a 2002 study by researchers at Kaohsiung Medical University determined that a component of aloe vera gel, called emodin, inhibited the proliferation of human liver cancer cells.
External Uses
Aloe vera gel is frequently used externally to treat minor cuts, scrapes and burns, and it is a common ingredient in cosmetic products such as lotions. It is also used as a remedy for skin irritations such as dry skin, sunburn and contact dermatitis. Aloe vera gel has been used to treat cold sores and may be effective at treating poison ivy rash, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, lichen planus and genital herpes. Cancer patients, particularly those being treated for skin cancers, use it for its purported curative properties and to alleviate skin irritation from radiation treatments.
Internal Uses
Aloe vera gel has also been used internally for treating ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease. The Mayo Clinic reports that oral intake of aloe vera gel may help reduce the risk of lung cancer, although more research is needed.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Aloe (Aloe vera)
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Aloe Vera
- National Institutes of Health: U.S. National Library of Medicine: The antiproliferative activity of aloe-emodin...
- American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences: Processing of Aloe Vera Leaf Gel
- Genemco: Aloe Vera Processing Equipment
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