Aloe vera is well known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, sunburn relief, immune boost, anti-ageing and anti-cancer properties.
Additional benefits of aloe vera include improving gut health, supporting the immune system, boosting skin and dental health.
When I was younger I can still remember my grandma breaking off a piece of aloe to apply the gel to a scrape or bruise I had gotten. Little did I know that this gel had healing properties.
Each layer of the plant as shown in the image below provides key nutrients and phytochemicals with health promoting properties.
Various parts of the plant contain the following
– Approximately 75 nutrients
– 200 active compounds including amino acids, sugars, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, saponins, anthraquinones, lignin and salicylic acid.
– Volatile components and ascorbic acid are present in the flowers while polysaccharides, lignin, pectin, hemicellulose and cellulose are present in the rind.
– Similarly, the leaves are the source of various organic acids, enzymes, phenolic compounds, minerals and vitamins.
There are three layers of the aloe leaf that include aloe vera gel (inner layer), aloe vera latex (middle layer) and aloe vera rind (outer layer).
Aloe vera Gel:
– The layer is a soft, clear, moist and slippery tissue that is made of parenchyma cells.
– This layers has a transparent jelly like feel.
– It is 99% water.
– It contains glucomannans, amino acids, lipids, sterols and vitamins.
Aloe vera latex:
– The middle layer contains a yellow sap, glycosides and anthraquinones.
Aloe vera Rind:
– This layer is approximately 20 cells thick
– The rind helps protect the gel matrix
– This layer also helps make carbohydrates and proteins
Reference
Maan et al. The therapeutic properties and applications of Aloe vera: A review. Journal of Herbal Medicine 2018
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Antioxidant, Infection, Inflammation
What is in Aloe vera gel?