Aloe vera

CATANA CATALIN
 What is aloe vera?
• Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed plant
growing to 60–100 cm tall.
• The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green,
with some varieties showing white flecks on their
upper and lower stem surfaces. The margin of the
leaf is serrated and has small white teeth.
• Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular
mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better
access to mineral nutrients in soil.
 Soil and climate
• Aloe vera is found to grow in hot humid and high
rainfall conditions. It is grown in all kind of soils but
well drained soil with high organic matter, is most
suitable.
• Aloe vera grows well in brightsun light. Shady
conditions results in disease infestation. It is highly
sensitive to water stagnation. Therefore, well drained
high land should be selected for its cultivation.
 Handling and Processing
• Aloe veraleaves are typically subjected to a series
of processing techniques. For manufacture of Aloe
veraleaf juices, processing should take place as
soon as possible due to the highly perishable nature
of the juice, ideally within 36 hours of harvesting
the leaves. If immediate processing is not
possible, leaves should be stored in a refrigerated
facility. Prolonged storage of the leaves after
harvest without refrigeration may result in
enzymatic and bacterial degradation of the
polysaccharides.
• Due to concerns over potential carcinogenicity of
aloins A and B, filtration (“decolorization”), often
with activated charcoal and diatomaceous earth,
has become a common practice in the
manufacturing of Aloe veraleaf juices. Decolorization
removes a variety of small-molecular-weight organic
compounds, including aloins A and B, from aloe vera
leaf material.
• The inner gel, or “pure gel”, is the more readily
known part of the Aloe veraplant. This is the section
of the plant that is most commonly known to be
used for treatments of sun burns. But if prepared
properly, the inner gel can be consumed to help treat
certain internal ailments
 Medicinal uses
• Medicinal properties of Aloe verarange from external
burn treatments to helping relieve constipation by
consumption. Aloe verais the most efficacious natural
plant used both externally and internally and there are
numerous benefits that are derived from this
wonderful plant. The health benefits of Aloe
verahave been propagated throughout the world.There
are two parts of Aloe verathat are commonly used.
The bitter exudate is used as a natural drug for its
cathartic effect and is widely employed as a bittering
agent in alcoholic beverages and as a laxative.
 Bibliography
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera#Desc
ription

• http://www.phytojournal.com/vol2Issue5/Issu
e_jan_2014/19.1.pdf

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P
MC3551117/