The Aloe vera plant has been known and used for centuries for its, beauty health, medicinal, skin care and other various properties. It has a vast traditional role in the indigenous system of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and homeopathy. Aloe barbadensis miller is the botanical name of Aloe vera. Aloe vera, commonly known as Barbados, considered as a magical plant. The arborescent, perennial, xerophytic, succulent plant mainly grows in subtropical areas. Aloe vera is considered to be a storehouse of phytochemicals. The plant leaves contain lots of chemical constituents such as anthraquinones, carbohydrates, vitamins, steroids, mineral, other inorganic and organics substances. Bioactive compounds from Aloe vera are very effective in various treatments, such as burns, allergic reactions, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, acid indigestion, ulcers, skin diseases, diabetes, dysentery, diarrhoea, piles and inflammatory conditions of the digestive system and other internal organs, including the stomach, small intestine, liver, kidney, and pancreas. The active ingredients from Aloe vera have been shown to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer agent. The plant also contains a lot of enzymes that regulate different types of reaction in our body. The cosmetics value of the plant is high from other plants.
4. Objectives Of The Study
To focus on
Botanical Description
Phytochemical Constituents
Pharmacological Activities of the Constituents
Toxicity and Adverse Reaction
5. Introduction
• Perennial, drought-resisting, succulent plant.
• Has a vast traditional role in the indigenous system of
medicine.
• The plant is considered to be a storehouse of
phytochemicals.
• The plant leaves contain lots of chemical constituents
which are used as analgesic, anti inflammatory,
antioxidant, anticancer agent and many other conditions.
• The plants also contains a lot of enzymes that regulates
different types of reaction in our body.
6. Taxonomical Classification
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Liliopsida
Order : Liliales
Family : Liliaceae
Genus : Aloe
Species : Aloe vera
7. Vernacular Name
Language Name Language Name
Arabic Sibr Hindi Kumari
Bengali
Ghritakalmi,
Ghrit-Kumari
Telegu kalabanda
Chiness Lu Hui French Aloes
German Aloe Greek Aloe
Italian Aloe Japaness Rokai
8. Botanical Description
1. Plant Appearance:
Stem: Short
Leaves: Thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, has small
white teeth.
Inflorescence: Erect
Flowers: Yellow to red
Fruit: A woody capsule with many black seeds.
9. Botanical Description
2. Geographical distribution:
Have originated in the Sudan and Arabian
Peninsula.
Commonly grown in Asia, Southern Europe,
Southern USA, Mexico, Bonaire, Bermuda, West
Indies, Central and South America.
10. Botanical Description
3. Cultivation: It requires…
Bright sunlight
Shady condition results in disease infestation
Nitrogen rich soil
PH upto 8.5
Should be planted in July- August
11. Ayurvedic Uses
• Believed to tone all three of the Ayurveda constituents
Vatta, Pitta, and Kapha.
• Have alliterative, tonic, rejuvenating, purgative and
vulnerary actions.
• Used for constipation, colic, skin diseases, worn
infections.
• Used internally as a laxative, anthelmintic,
haemorrhoid treatment and psoriasis.
12. Ethnopharmacology
Country Ethnopharmacology
Arab Used for healing wound, curing conjunctivitis,
and as a disinfectant and laxative.
Roman Treating burns
Japan Beverage
Russia Treating cuts, scraps, minor burns, cold sores
& sun burns.
Egypt Curing infections, treating skin problems and
as a laxative.
Greek Wounds, hair loss, genital ulcers and
haemorrhoids.
13. Phytochemical Constituents
Class Compounds
Anthraquinone
Barbaloin (Aloin A and B ), isobarbaloin, anthranol,
anthracene, ester of cinnamic acid, aloe emodin,
emodin,resistannol, aloetic acid.
Carbohydrates
Pure mannan, acetylated mannan, acetylated
glucomannan, glucogalactomannan, galactan,
galactogalacturan, galactogluco arabinomannan, cellulose.
Amino acids
Alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glycine, histidine,
hydroxyproline, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, tyrosine, valine.
16. Pharmacological Properties
Antibacterial Activity:
• Active against both gram (+) and gram (-).
• Acts on Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella
pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter
species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa .
• The antibacterial action of Aloe vera gel enhances the
wound healing process by its anti inflammatory action.
18. Pharmacological Properties
Antioxidant activities: The acting substances are the minerals,
Manganese and Copper, vitamins B2, B6, C, and E and the amino
acid cysteine.
Elements Mechanism of actions Functions
Manganese Fight against the negative effects of
oxygen and broad spectrum
radiation. constitutes a part of the
enzyme superoxide dismutase.
Makes cells stronger.
Copper Prevents rancidity of
polyunsaturated fatty acids
keeps the cellular
membranes strong.
Cysteine de-activating free radicals through
its sulphurous function group
Good health and
longevity.
19. Pharmacological Properties
Anti-Inflammatory Activities:
Elements Mechanism of actions Functions
Bradykinase. Break down the
bradykinin
Reduces pain.
Emolin,
barbaloin
Anti thromboxane effect Maintain cellular integrity
Carboxypeptida
se
Inactivate bradykinin Inhibits inflammation
Mannose
Inhibits the human
neutrophils oxidative
burst
Prevent tissue damage
20. Pharmacological Properties
Anticancer activity:
Elements Mechanism of actions Functions
Acemannan
Stimulate the production of
tumor necrosis factor
(TNF), interleukin-1 and
interferon by macrophages
Antitumor effect
Polysaccharides
Chemopreventive and
curative properties
Treatment of mouse skin
tumors
Aloe emodin Active against P-388
leukemia
Anticancer
Aloe latex Enhances the activity of 6-
fluorouracil and
cyclophosphamide
Anticancer
22. Pharmacological Properties
Wound Healing:
Elements Mechanism of action Functions
Mannose 6-phosphate Direct stimulation of
macrophages
Promote tissue
repair.
Glucomannan and
gibberellin
Stimulate the activity
and proliferation of
fibroblast in turn
significantly increases
collagen synthesis.
Wound healing
Acemannan Stimulate the release of
fibrogenic cytokines
Wound healing
23. Pharmacological Properties
Immunomodulator:
Elemennts Mechanism of action Functions
Glucomannan
Reduces the number of leaks in the
intestinal wall and diminish the
foreign protein absorption that can
stimulate allergic reactions in the
body.
Diminish allergic
reaction
Acemannan
Stimulates intestinal motility Remove allergenic
proteins from the small
intestine.
Mannose Enhanced antibody production
Enhance defensive
system.
24. Pharmacological Properties
Anti-diabetic effects:
lophenol, 24-ethyl-lophenol, cycloartanol showed anti-
diabetic effects in type-2 diabetic in mice.
May stimulate the release or synthesis of insulin from
the β-cell of Islets of Langerhans.
Lower blood glucose levels by the enhancement of
glucose metabolism or amplify the anti oxidant effect,
which reduces the peroxide levels and hence oxidative
damage.
26. TOXICITY AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
Contraindicated throughout pregnancy, menstruation
and hemorrhoids.
Overdose may cause extreme stomach agony,
bleeding gastritis and inflammatory kidney diseases.
Local application of aloe gel may cause an intense skin
rash.
May cause severe electrolyte imbalance and
accumulation of blood in the pelvic region and may
induce abortion or premature birth in late pregnancy.
27. Conclusion
The active ingredients hidden in its succulent leaves
have the power to soothe human life and health in a
myriad ways.
A. vera is undoubtedly, the nature’s gift to humanity for
cosmetic, burn and medicinal application and it
remains for us to introduce it to ourselves and thank
the nature for its never-ending gift.
So, it is high time to proper use of Aloe vera in our daily
life.
