353
18.3.9 Other Compounds
Other compounds reported to be present in aloe include benzene, furan and naphthalene derivatives. Protocatechuic acid a benzene derivative found in aloe have
been identified to exhibit antioxidant activities as it gets rid of free radicles as
reported in a study (Lodovici et al. 2001). The aloe species also contain a number of
important minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, copper, and iron etc. The
plants also contain sugars such as glucose, arabinose, mannose, galactose, and
xylose apart from containing important dietary vitamins like vitamins B1, B2, B6,
B12 and also vitamin C. The plant is also a source of amino acids and folic acid. An
important polysaccharide acemannan is also present in Aloe vera gel and is thought
to be the major reason behind the various benefits of the plant (Dagne et al. 2000).
18.4 Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
In India, Caribbean, China, and Japan Aloe plants are considered as traditional
medicine for more than 2000 years. Researchers reported that various parts of Aloe
plant especially gel and latex possesses wide range of pharmaceutical activities due
to presence of numerous beneficial bioactive compounds. It has been reported that
8.5–13.8% of people of Hispanic populations in the southern USA frequently use
Aloe vera in alternative and complementary medicine. According to surveys, it is
also used regularly by 7.6%, 10.8% and 10.3% of adults in Jamaica, Australia, and
Italy respectively (Ngo et al. 2010). A single-strength leaf gel of fluid ounces
(59–237 mL) of Aloe vera was recommended for total daily consumption by the
International Aloe Science Council (IASC 2013). Pure Aloe vera gel can be used
generously as topical cream for skin. Psoriasis vulgaris and genital herpes can be
treated by using hydrophilic cream, three times per day for five consecutive days
per week made with 0.5% (by weight) of a 50% ethanol extract of Aloe vera
(Ulbricht et al. 2007).
The gel/latex of Aloe plant can be used as medicinal laxative. The European
Medicines Agency (EMA 2006) suggested that consumption of a correct individual dose of 30 mg of hydroxyanthracene glycosides per day produce soft-formed
stool. The recommended dose for children and adults above 10 years of age is
10–30 mg of hydroxyanthraquinones/day, 40–110 mg of the dried latex or 100 mg
as a single dose in the evening (WHO 1999). In adults oral dose of 4.5:1 Aloe vera
gel concentrate of 25–100 mL per day was suggested for therapeutic applications
(Morgan et al. 2005).
Recent research evidences on Aloe vera by the Natural Standard Research
Collaboration reported that Aloe vera extract, gel or latex is safe if used as topical
application for the treatment of mild to moderate skin conditions like inflammation,
burn or wound (Ulbricht et al. 2008), its oral use has shown potential benefits like
hypoglycaemic property, regulation of blood pressure, treatment of ulcerative coli18 Aloe Species as Valuable Sources of Functional Bioactives
18.3.9 Other Compounds
Other compounds reported to be present in aloe include benzene, furan and naphthalene derivatives. Protocatechuic acid a benzene derivative found in aloe have
been identified to exhibit antioxidant activities as it gets rid of free radicles as
reported in a study (Lodovici et al. 2001). The aloe species also contain a number of
important minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, copper, and iron etc. The
plants also contain sugars such as glucose, arabinose, mannose, galactose, and
xylose apart from containing important dietary vitamins like vitamins B1, B2, B6,
B12 and also vitamin C. The plant is also a source of amino acids and folic acid. An
important polysaccharide acemannan is also present in Aloe vera gel and is thought
to be the major reason behind the various benefits of the plant (Dagne et al. 2000).
18.4 Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
In India, Caribbean, China, and Japan Aloe plants are considered as traditional
medicine for more than 2000 years. Researchers reported that various parts of Aloe
plant especially gel and latex possesses wide range of pharmaceutical activities due
to presence of numerous beneficial bioactive compounds. It has been reported that
8.5–13.8% of people of Hispanic populations in the southern USA frequently use
Aloe vera in alternative and complementary medicine. According to surveys, it is
also used regularly by 7.6%, 10.8% and 10.3% of adults in Jamaica, Australia, and
Italy respectively (Ngo et al. 2010). A single-strength leaf gel of fluid ounces
(59–237 mL) of Aloe vera was recommended for total daily consumption by the
International Aloe Science Council (IASC 2013). Pure Aloe vera gel can be used
generously as topical cream for skin. Psoriasis vulgaris and genital herpes can be
treated by using hydrophilic cream, three times per day for five consecutive days
per week made with 0.5% (by weight) of a 50% ethanol extract of Aloe vera
(Ulbricht et al. 2007).
The gel/latex of Aloe plant can be used as medicinal laxative. The European
Medicines Agency (EMA 2006) suggested that consumption of a correct individual dose of 30 mg of hydroxyanthracene glycosides per day produce soft-formed
stool. The recommended dose for children and adults above 10 years of age is
10–30 mg of hydroxyanthraquinones/day, 40–110 mg of the dried latex or 100 mg
as a single dose in the evening (WHO 1999). In adults oral dose of 4.5:1 Aloe vera
gel concentrate of 25–100 mL per day was suggested for therapeutic applications
(Morgan et al. 2005).
Recent research evidences on Aloe vera by the Natural Standard Research
Collaboration reported that Aloe vera extract, gel or latex is safe if used as topical
application for the treatment of mild to moderate skin conditions like inflammation,
burn or wound (Ulbricht et al. 2008), its oral use has shown potential benefits like
hypoglycaemic property, regulation of blood pressure, treatment of ulcerative coli18 Aloe Species as Valuable Sources of Functional Bioactives