342
The parenchyma cells are present in the inner leaf pulp of Aloe gel. In all aloe
species the pulp consists of high acemannan polysaccharide and water content
(approximately 99% for Aloe vera). There is a presence of numerous proteins, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, phytochemicals or secondary metabolites in the inner leaf
pulp which includes flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, chromones, anthrones and
anthraquinones (Reynolds 2004; Dagne et al. 2000; Boudreau and Beland 2006).
18.3 Phytochemistry
Aloe vera is a succulent plant meaning that the plant can bear droughts of water and
can survive in areas of less water availability, due to possessing large water storage
inside it. Though the studies are lacking, the plant’s pulp is said to be associated
with the storage of water (Ni et al. 2004). Succulents also use a different photosynthetic metabolism called as crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) that involves
malic acid (Denius and Homann 1972; Kluge et al. 1979).
In diverse Aloe genus plants, a variety of biologically active substances are present which shows interesting pharmacological activities. The potential bioactive compounds are present in different parts of Aloe plant such as leaves, outer pulp, inner
leaf pulp (gel) or latex. The phytoconstituents present in Aloe genus includes
enzymes, amino acids, saccharides, lignin, salicylic acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, saponins, coumarins, pyrans, pyrones, anthrones, benzene, anthroquinones,
naphthalene, chromones, and furan derivatives (Cock 2015). In leaf gels of unspecified Aloe species various vitamins are present namely vitamin E (α-tocopherol), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin B 1 (thiamine), vitamin B 2 (riboflavin), vitamin B 6
Fig. 18.1 A schematic illustration of Aloe leaf morphology showing a leaf cross section
C. Egbuna et al.
The parenchyma cells are present in the inner leaf pulp of Aloe gel. In all aloe
species the pulp consists of high acemannan polysaccharide and water content
(approximately 99% for Aloe vera). There is a presence of numerous proteins, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, phytochemicals or secondary metabolites in the inner leaf
pulp which includes flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, chromones, anthrones and
anthraquinones (Reynolds 2004; Dagne et al. 2000; Boudreau and Beland 2006).
18.3 Phytochemistry
Aloe vera is a succulent plant meaning that the plant can bear droughts of water and
can survive in areas of less water availability, due to possessing large water storage
inside it. Though the studies are lacking, the plant’s pulp is said to be associated
with the storage of water (Ni et al. 2004). Succulents also use a different photosynthetic metabolism called as crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) that involves
malic acid (Denius and Homann 1972; Kluge et al. 1979).
In diverse Aloe genus plants, a variety of biologically active substances are present which shows interesting pharmacological activities. The potential bioactive compounds are present in different parts of Aloe plant such as leaves, outer pulp, inner
leaf pulp (gel) or latex. The phytoconstituents present in Aloe genus includes
enzymes, amino acids, saccharides, lignin, salicylic acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, saponins, coumarins, pyrans, pyrones, anthrones, benzene, anthroquinones,
naphthalene, chromones, and furan derivatives (Cock 2015). In leaf gels of unspecified Aloe species various vitamins are present namely vitamin E (α-tocopherol), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin B 1 (thiamine), vitamin B 2 (riboflavin), vitamin B 6
Fig. 18.1 A schematic illustration of Aloe leaf morphology showing a leaf cross section
C. Egbuna et al.