351
18.3.3 Anthrones
Anthrones has been reduced from anthraquinones and are a class of compounds
mainly responsible for producing laxation and purgation effects. Alloin A and B are
collectively called as barbaloin or alloin are C-glycosyl anthrones and are the first
anthrones to be discovered in aloe. Anthrones have been found not only in Aloe vera
but in amost a hundred species of genus Aloe in high concentrations of 10–20%
(Dagne et al. 2000). Aloe ferox has almost a 30 percentage of such anthrones (Van
Wyk et al. 1995).
Alloin however is not only confined to the genus Aloe but several other plant
species belonging to different genus also contain alloin. Nataloin and homonataloin
have been detected to be present in a species of aloe called Aloe marlothii Berger.
The anthrone 10-Hydroxyaloin B is found in abundance in Aloe llittoralis. Anthrones
are mostly present in the leaves and have not yet been discovered to present in the
roots of the species (Dagne et al. 2000).
Anthrons such as alloin have been reported to act as strong antioxidants and
protective of the DNA breakage at high concentrations (Yen et al. 2000; Tian and
Hua 2005), but at lower concentrations, they act as prooxidants.
18.3.4 Chromones
It is one of the most abundant phenolic compound present in the aloe species including aloesin and aloeresin. These have been found and identified in most of the aloe
species. Aloesin has been identified to occur in at least 30% of the examined species
of the genus aloe (Dagne et al. 2000). Chromines such as aloesin and
7-O-methylaloesin are the major components found in Aloe rupestris Bak (Dagne
et al. 2000).
18.3.5 Coumarins, Pyrans and Pyrones
Aloe ferox has been reported to contain coumarins a such as dihydroisocoumarin
glycoside and feralolide (Speranza et al. 1993). Apart from his species A. hildebrandtii has also been reported to contain the said two coumarines (Veitch et al.
1994). Coumarin such as aloenin is a very bitter tasting component found in the leaf
exudant of aloe and has been derived from phenylpyrone. These constituents of the
aloe plants have been reported to suppress hunger (Costa et al. 2016). A double
blind placebo controlled study, in an attempt to treat lymphedema of arms and legs
with 5,6-Benzo- α -pyrone was carried out with the findings that the said pyrone
stimulates macrophagaes to cause degradation of the albumins present outside the
cells ultimately resulting in a rapid reabsorption of the fluid and thus lowering of the
edematous swellings at a dose of 400 mg for a duration of 6 months. After the first
18 Aloe Species as Valuable Sources of Functional Bioactives
18.3.3 Anthrones
Anthrones has been reduced from anthraquinones and are a class of compounds
mainly responsible for producing laxation and purgation effects. Alloin A and B are
collectively called as barbaloin or alloin are C-glycosyl anthrones and are the first
anthrones to be discovered in aloe. Anthrones have been found not only in Aloe vera
but in amost a hundred species of genus Aloe in high concentrations of 10–20%
(Dagne et al. 2000). Aloe ferox has almost a 30 percentage of such anthrones (Van
Wyk et al. 1995).
Alloin however is not only confined to the genus Aloe but several other plant
species belonging to different genus also contain alloin. Nataloin and homonataloin
have been detected to be present in a species of aloe called Aloe marlothii Berger.
The anthrone 10-Hydroxyaloin B is found in abundance in Aloe llittoralis. Anthrones
are mostly present in the leaves and have not yet been discovered to present in the
roots of the species (Dagne et al. 2000).
Anthrons such as alloin have been reported to act as strong antioxidants and
protective of the DNA breakage at high concentrations (Yen et al. 2000; Tian and
Hua 2005), but at lower concentrations, they act as prooxidants.
18.3.4 Chromones
It is one of the most abundant phenolic compound present in the aloe species including aloesin and aloeresin. These have been found and identified in most of the aloe
species. Aloesin has been identified to occur in at least 30% of the examined species
of the genus aloe (Dagne et al. 2000). Chromines such as aloesin and
7-O-methylaloesin are the major components found in Aloe rupestris Bak (Dagne
et al. 2000).
18.3.5 Coumarins, Pyrans and Pyrones
Aloe ferox has been reported to contain coumarins a such as dihydroisocoumarin
glycoside and feralolide (Speranza et al. 1993). Apart from his species A. hildebrandtii has also been reported to contain the said two coumarines (Veitch et al.
1994). Coumarin such as aloenin is a very bitter tasting component found in the leaf
exudant of aloe and has been derived from phenylpyrone. These constituents of the
aloe plants have been reported to suppress hunger (Costa et al. 2016). A double
blind placebo controlled study, in an attempt to treat lymphedema of arms and legs
with 5,6-Benzo- α -pyrone was carried out with the findings that the said pyrone
stimulates macrophagaes to cause degradation of the albumins present outside the
cells ultimately resulting in a rapid reabsorption of the fluid and thus lowering of the
edematous swellings at a dose of 400 mg for a duration of 6 months. After the first
18 Aloe Species as Valuable Sources of Functional Bioactives