Aloe Vera is a short-stemmed shrub. Aloe is a genus that contains more than 500 species of flowering succulent plants. Many Aloe trees occur naturally in North Africa.
The leaves of Aloe vera are succulent, erect and form a dense rosette. The gel obtained from the leaves of the plant is used in many ways.
Aloe vera has been the subject of numerous scientific studies in recent years, concerning several claimed therapeutic properties. In this article, we will examine some of these claims and study the research behind them.
According to Kew Gardensroyal botanical center of excellence of england, Aloe vera has been used for centuries and is currently more popular than ever.
It is grown around the world, mainly for “Aloe gel”, which comes from the leaf.
Aloe vera is today widely used in:
- Food – it is FDA approved as a flavoring.
- Beauty products.
- Food supplements.
- Herbal remedies.
The first record of human use for Aloe vera comes from the Ebers Papyrus (an Egyptian medical record) from the 16th century BC. According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatologyin ancient Egypt it was called Aloe vera “this plant of immortality.” The authors add that the plant has been used for therapeutic purposes
Medicinal claims made about Aloe vera, as with many herbs and plants, are endless. Some are based on rigorous scientific studies, others not. This article focuses primarily on those that rely on research.
1. Teeth and gums
A study published in General dentistry reported that Aloe vera in dental gels is as effective as toothpaste in fighting cavities.
Researchers compared the germ-fighting ability of a Aloe vera dental gel with two popular toothpastes. They found that the gel was just as effective, and in some cases even better than commercial toothpastes, at controlling cavity-causing oral bacteria.
The authors explain that Aloe latex contains anthraquinones, compounds that actively heal and reduce pain through natural anti-inflammatory effects.
The scientists warned that not all gels analyzed contained the appropriate form of Aloe vera – they must contain the stabilized gel that exists in the center of the plant to be effective.
2. Constipation
The German regulatory agency for aromatic herbs – Commission E – has approved the use of Aloe vera for the treatment of constipation. Doses of 50 to 200 milligrams of Aloe latex is usually taken in liquid or capsule form once a day for up to 10 days.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled in 2002 that there was insufficient data on the safety and effectiveness of the drugs. Aloe some products; therefore, in the United States they cannot be sold to treat constipation.
3. Diabetes-induced foot ulcers
A study carried out at the Sinhgad College of Pharmacy, India, and published in the
They reported that a “gel formed with carbopol 974p (1%) and Aloe vera promotes significant wound healing and closure in diabetic rats compared to the commercial product and is a promising product for use in diabetes-induced foot ulcers.
4. Possible antioxidant and antimicrobial properties
Researchers from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, published a study in the journal Molecules.
The team sought to determine whether the methanol extract from the skin of leaves and flowers of Aloe vera could have beneficial effects on human health. Scientists focused on the possibilities of the extract antioxidant and antimycoplasmal activities.
Mycoplasma is a type of bacteria that lacks a cell wall; they are not affected by many antibiotics. Antimycoplasma substances destroy these bacteria.
They reported that both Aloe vera flower and leaf extracts had antioxidant properties, especially leaf peel extract. The leaf peel extract also exhibited antimycoplasmal properties.
The authors concluded that “A. Vera Leaf and flower skin extracts can be considered good natural sources of antioxidants.
5. Protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays
Scientists at Kyung Hee University’s global campus in South Korea wanted to determine whether a baby Aloe shoot extract and adult Aloe the shoot extract could have a protective effect on skin photoaging induced by UVB; in other words, whether they could protect skin from the aging effects of the sun.
baby Aloe shoot extract (BAE) comes from shoots aged 1 month to adulthood Aloe shoot extract (AE) comes from shoots aged 4 months.
In an article published in Herbal medicine researchTHE
6. Protection against skin damage after radiotherapy
A study conducted at the University of Naples, Italy, tested five different topical creams to see how effective they might be in protecting skin from breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. One of these creams contained Aloe.
They divided 100 patients into five groups of 20; each was prescribed a different topical treatment. They applied the creams twice a day, starting 15 days before the radiotherapy treatment, and for 1 month afterwards.
During the 6-week period, participants underwent weekly skin assessments.
In the magazine Radiation oncologyscientists have reported that preventive use of topical moisturizers
“All moisturizers used in this study were also valuable in treating radiotherapy-induced skin damage.”
7. Depression, learning and memory – an animal experiment
A study published in Nutritional neuroscience found this Aloe vera
After conducting experiments on laboratory mice, they concluded: “Aloe vera improves learning and memory, and also alleviates depression In mice.”
Additional studies are needed to determine whether humans could also benefit from the same benefits.
8. Wounds caused by second degree burns
A team of plastic surgeons compared Aloe vera Silver sulfadiazine cream 1 percent gel for the treatment of second degree burns.
They reported in the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association that burns among patients treated with Aloe vera cured significantly faster compared to those treated with 1 percent silver sulfadiazine (SSD).
The researchers added that those of the Aloe vera The group experienced significantly greater and earlier pain relief than the SSD group.
The authors wrote: “Thermal burn patients dressed with Aloe vera The gel showed an advantage over those dressed with SSD with regard to earlier wound epithelialization, earlier pain relief, and cost-effectiveness.
9. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
A double-blind, randomized human trial conducted at St. George’s Hospital Medical School in London, United Kingdom, studied Aloe and IBS. Their results were published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice. Participants with IBS received either Aloe vera or one placebo. After 3 months, there was no significant difference in symptoms of diarrhea.
However, the
“There was no evidence that AV (Aloe vera) benefits IBS patients. However, we could not exclude the possibility that improvement occurred in patients with diarrhea or alternating IBS during AV treatment. Further investigation is warranted in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS, in a less complex patient group.
Most global health authorities say many of the dozens of therapeutic benefits associated with Aloe vera require additional scientific evidence. This is not to say that the claims are necessarily inaccurate.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (
Products containing aloin, aloe-emodin and barbaloin (components of Aloe) were formerly regulated by the FDA as over-the-counter oral laxatives. In 2002, the FDA required that all over-the-counter drugs Aloe laxatives are withdrawn from the market or reformulated due to lack of data on their safety.
However, the use of topical products Aloe vera is likely to be safe. If you choose to use it, do an allergy test (apply a small circle to the skin and wait 24 hours) before using it more widely on your body.
Some studies have shown that current events Aloe the gel can help with abrasions and burns. However, NCCAM wrote: “There is insufficient scientific evidence to support Aloe vera for one of its other uses.
There is a selection of aloe vera products available for online purchase.
