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Review Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2692-9406/178
Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Mekdela Amba University, P.O. Box 32, Tulu Awuliya, Ethiopia.
*Corresponding Author: Adamu Tizazu Yadeta, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Mekdela Amba University, P.O. Box 32, Tulu Awuliya, Ethiopia.
Citation: Adamu T. Yadeta, Melese D. Asfaw and Mequanint G. Awoke, (2024), A Review on Therapeutic applications of Aloe Species, J. Biomedical Research and Clinical Reviews. 9(1); DOI:10.31579/2692-9406/178
Copyright: © 2024, Adamu Tizazu Yadeta. this is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Received: 12 January 2024 | Accepted: 26 January 2024 | Published: 02 February 2024
Keywords: aloe species; cosmeceutical applications; pharmaceutical applications; and nutraceutical applications
In modern days, researchers are trying to confirm the scientific way of using these plants in both in vitro and in vivo trials for their therapeutic efficacy, responsible bioactive compounds, toxicology and dosages. Because Aloe species have a naturally occurring color, they are used as thickening agents and in biotechnology applications for textile pretreatment and coloration. Taking into account their numerous health benefits and valuable chemical composition, the Aloe species could be regarded as economically significant matrices for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food, beverages, agricultural chemicals, printing, and dye industries. In summary, Aloe species extracts are used to boost the efficacy of various applications.
The Aloe plants have been used for food and medicine for thousands of years. Because their preparations, instructions, practices, skills, and knowledge are profitable, traditional medical systems all over the world have a significant role modern development. Many of the traditional uses of Aloe species have been confirmed by scientific studies [1, 2]. Aloe species are commonly used in the production of bioactive compounds, traditional medicine, and commercial food products [3]. Aloes are produced as lovely plants and contain a wide range of chemical compositions that can be used to make pharmaceutical, personal hygiene, and cosmetic products, as well as medical and beauty products [4]. The plant's fleshy leaves, gel, and latex are primarily used commercially in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries as pills, jellies, creams, drinks, liquid, sprays, ointments, and lotions [5].
Aloe gel processing from the plant's leaf pulp has become a significant global industrial raw material due to its applications in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food, and beverage industries [6, 7]. Mesophyll, or "gel," is a colorless, spongy substance derived from the leaves of Aloe plants. It is used as a natural product ingredient in foods, household goods, topical medications, and cosmetics, with a significant global market [8].These plants are used industrially for a variety of purposes, including beverages, ice cream, food supplements, and more products [9]. Several species of Aloe have recently been included in a range of skin and hair care products [10]. Numerous products, such as lotions, creams, soaps, shampoos, ointments, pills, and capsules, are made with Aloe gel moisturizing and excipient qualities [11]. A. vera, for instance, is frequently used in toothpaste, mouthwash, shaving creams, deodorants, moisturizers, cleansers, sun lotions, and shampoos in the toiletry and cosmetic industries [12]. These days, a lot of companies are industrializing a range of goods made from Aloe extracts. However, there is a lack of thorough data illustrating the incorporation of Aloe extracts into manufactured goods. Therefore, the current objective is putting comprehensive data for the therapeutic applications of Aloe species.
A quantitative chemical technique for determining and communicating a food nutritional value is called proximate analysis. As a percentage of dry fuel weight, it presents the fuel's moisture content, ash (minerals), crude fiber, crude fat, and crude protein (total nitrogen) [13]. Proximate analysis, also known as "conventional analysis," is a method of nutrient investigation that identifies the gross components as opposed to the specific nutrients, such as monosaccharides, fatty acids, and amino acids [14]. Moisture content, crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, ash content, and carbohydrate make up the proximate composition. Aloe species have been found to be high in fat, protein, and carbohydrates in literature, which suggests that Aloe species have nutritional value [15].
Aloe species are rich in minerals such as potassium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, lead, and so forth, as the mineral analysis revealed [16]. Determining the amount of ash and minerals in food helps evaluate its nutritional value. It involves identifying the components and confirming whether the food contains certain minerals in amounts that are harmful to the consumer's health, whether those minerals are naturally occurring or have been added to processed, preserved, or other food items [17].
Phytochemical screening determines whether secondary metabolites are present or absent in the in the extract. Basic characteristics of phytochemical screening include (1) plant parts such as leaves (gel, latex, or skin), roots, or flowers; (2) weather and soil type; (3) harvesting period; (4) extraction solvent (methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, hexane, etc., or their ratio); and (5) other factors that determine whether phytochemicals are present or absent even for the same plant [18]. To display the reports of the phytochemical screening, some Aloe species and the part of the plant are taken into account.
Several bioactive compounds which are classified into chromone, anthraquinone, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, coumarins, phytosterols, naphthalene analogs, lipids and others have been isolated from Aloe species [19]. The chemical components of Aloe have been analyzed using a variety of techniques, including capillary electrophoresis, thin layer chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, and counter current chromatography. In addition to chromatographic techniques, spectroscopic instruments used to characterize the structure of the isolated compounds [4, 7, 20].
Figure 1: Some compounds isolated from Aloe species
Phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, hydrocarbons, fatty acids, indoles, pyrimidines, aldehydes, and ketones, dicarboxylic acids, alkaloids, and others are among the active chemical constituents found in Aloe species. The phytochemicals are what give Aloe species their biological activities. Aloe species are known for their biological activities, which include anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, gastrointestinal, hepato-protective, and antimicrobial properties. They are also known for their beneficial effects on skin conditions like wounds and other infectious diseases [1, 2, 20, 21]. Because of this, Aloe plants have a wide range of applications due to their numerous chemical constituents and biological activities.
Many researchers are currently interested in conducting studies on aloe and related fields of study. For this interest, the three primary elements that are interconnected are: (1) Aloe species chemical composition; (2) Aloe species biological activity; and (3) Aloe species applications. This indicates that the active chemicals found in aloe species are abundant and are in charge of a variety of biological processes. Aloe species have a wide range of uses as a result of their diverse biological activities. Aloe species are of interest to researchers due to their many applications. Thus, the Aloe-research cycle is made up of these connected points. In general, it can be summed up as follows: the more biological activities and applications a plant has, the more active constituents it has.
3.1Cosmeceutical applications
Aloe species are used in the preparation of traditional hair washing shampoos which are transformed to preparation of industrial in cosmetic and personal care products today [22]. Aloes ability to penetrate the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, expelling grease and bacteria from pores and inducing new cell production, which speeds up healing, is why the plants used in cosmetics [23]. Aloe gel is added to cleansers, moisturizers, shampoos, suntan lotions, and sunburn screens in the cosmetics industry. Aloesin has potential as a pigmentation-altering agent for cosmetic and medicinal uses because it inhibits tyrosinase competitively, which modulates melanogenesis [24]. A .vera gel is widely used in cosmetics, where it is now a key component in product sales. It serves as a foundation for a number of formulations, such as suntan lotions and moisturizers, which are humectants in skin preparations [25]. Because A. vera has beneficial moisturizing and calming properties, its gel and powder are used in a wide range of cosmetic products, including cleansers, shampoos, and moisturizing creams. One benefit of A. vera-based prepared soaps is that they don't irritate skin or leave it feeling parched. Aloe extracts are also included in some shaving lotions and creams in the USA and Asia to speed up the healing of shaving wounds. In shaving creams, A. vera gel's mucilaginous quality aids in its ability to act as a barrier of defense between the skin and beard [26, 27].
Lotions and sunblocks are used to treat a wide range of skin conditions, including sunburns, flaky or dry skin, hair and scalp issues, psoriasis, stretch marks, and dandruff. Because of its high nutritional content and antioxidant qualities, A. vera is well known for its potent healing activity, even at the epithelial level of the skin. This results in the skin having a protective layer that speeds up healing [28]. A. vera is applied before mineral-based makeup to prevent the skin from drying out. It is ideal for oily skin because of its moisturizing properties without leaving a greasy feeling behind. Giberellin, a growth hormone found in A. vera, promotes the formation of new cells and promotes skin healing with little scarring. Ayurvedic medications for persistent skin conditions like psoriasis, acne, and eczema contain A. vera [29]. A. vera leaves contain antioxidants such as β-carotene, vitamin C, and E, which help to maintain the skin's moisture balance and natural firmness [26, 30].
Any product that calls for mildness or moisturizing can benefit from the addition of A. vera gel. However, the gel's compatibility with the product system is essential to the development of such products successfully. A. vera gel generally works well with non-ionic, cationic, and anionic systems. Anionic systems, on the other hand, can only incorporate a limited amount of gel where quinones can react with the base to discolor the product. Furthermore, the product system may become neutralized if the gel's natural pH is added in a concentration greater than 30% [31].
3.2Pharmaceutical applications
Traditionally people used Aloe species for impotence in men, malaria, stomach ache, fire burn, caught, gonorrhea, swollen foot, strain, ascariasis, anthrax, internal parasite, wound, asthima, psychiatric disease, sprain, diabetes, liver disease, and eye aliments. In modern days, researchers are trying to confirm the scientific way of using these plants in both in vitro and in vivo trials for the therapeutic efficacy, responsible bioactive compounds, toxicology and dosages. That means Aloe in one form or another is a common domestic medicine and is the basis of most pharmaceutical preparations which lead to drug delivery [32, 33]. Aloe species phytochemical traits and pharmacological qualities have been thoroughly investigated and assessed [34]. A variety of therapeutic activities for gastrointestinal disorders, burns, skin regeneration, inflammation, kidney infections, bladder conditions, asthma, bronchitis, and arthritis have been reported for more than 200 compounds derived from A. vera [35].
A patent composition for oral administration that aims to reduce appetite and manage weight includes Aloe as a main ingredient [36]. Aloin, which is extracted from the yellow exudate of leaves, is utilized by certain pharmaceutical industries to make diacerein, a medication that is prescribed for the treatment of osteoarthritis [37]. Pharmaceutical companies produce acemannan, a polysaccharide derived from the Aloe species [38]. Because of its proven medicinal qualities, studies have given A. vera more significance, and it is now used to make pharmaceutical products like ointments, tablets, and capsules [26]. After gathering, the aloe leaves are thinly sliced, the bitter sap is extracted, sun-dried, and then ground into a powder (known as whole leaf powder). The powder is mixed into the formulation in a ratio of 30–70%, and the remaining portion is made up of bentonite or kaolin. The mixture is then formed into granules or tablets [2].
3.3Nutraceutical applications
The gel and flowers of Aloe species are eaten as cooked or raw vegetables traditionally in varies parts of the world. The study evaluated the nutritional value of Aloe species and their possible use as a food. Nowadays, incorporating Aloe extracts to the raw material of food industry is used to manufacture functional foods, nutraceutical foods, edible coating/films and antimicrobial agent foods [20]. Due to the nutritional components of Aloes, which include proteins, carbs, lipids, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and active enzymes that combine to produce these beneficial and biological effects, Aloes are also utilized as a food product and beverage ingredient [29]. Because it is a new source of bioactive components, Aloe species is currently one of the most important ingredients in the food industry. Owing to its advantageous characteristics in managing conditions like constipation, coughs, diabetes, headaches, arthritis, and immune system deficiencies, A. vera gel's possible application in the food industry is primarily concentrated on the creation of functional foods [39]. Several species of edible aloes are mentioned in the literature for their applications as cooked vegetables, snack foods, famine foods, and preserves ingredients. That does not imply that all aloe species are edible, though [12]. Because A. vera contains nutrients, a lot of commercial food product manufacturers have increased the use of A. vera juice or gel in one way or another [27]. A. vera gel is used in the nutraceutical industry as a supplement in other food products and as a mineral source for a range of functional foods that are used to make different health drinks and beverages [11].
Because A. vera gel is used in the food industry, its processing from the plant's leaf pulp has grown to be a significant global industry [6]. A. vera is used by the food industry to produce functional goods, particularly yogurt, cranberry, orange, grape, raspberry, pineapple, and strawberry beverages, as well as jam and jelly and health drinks [40]. Additionally, A. vera gel is used in the preparation of other food products like ice cream, milk, confections, etc. as a food preservative and flavoring [41]. A. vera appears to hold promise as a safe, all-natural, and environmentally friendly substitute for traditional synthetic preservatives because it has no effect on the taste or appearance of food. To extend the safety and quality of fresh products, A. vera gel can be applied as an edible coating [42]. Aloe gel-coated table grapes considerably slowed down the breakdown of useful substances like ascorbic acid and total phenolic. A. vera does, in fact, prevent food spoilage and the growth of microorganisms that cause foodborne illnesses in humans or animals [26, 43]. The FDA in the US has authorized gel's internal use as a "dietary supplement." A. vera is permitted to be used by the feed industry as a sensory additive functional group known as "flavoring compounds" by the European Commission (EC) in Annex I of Regulation No. 1831/2003 in order to improve the smell or palatability of feeding materials [44, 45].
It is crucial to conduct more research on the integration of Aloe extracts into industrial products based on the traditional applications as these will expand the field of study on Aloe species and technology stack such as drug discovery, nano biotechnology, and etc. Thus, taking into account its numerous health benefits and valuable chemical composition, the Aloe species could be regarded as economically significant matrices for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food, beverages, agricultural chemicals, printing and dye industries. As a result, controlled research will be needed in the future to demonstrate the Aloe species efficacy in a variety of settings while maintaining the species. In summary, Aloe species extracts are used to boost the efficacy of modern industrial inputs for varies products by combining them with other useful materials.
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