Aloe vera is a natural product that has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and is now frequently used in the field of cosmetology. Aloe vera leaves are comprised of three parts: the skin, the gel, and the latex. The gel is responsible for most of its health benefits and is rich in nutrients with more than 75 potentially active compounds, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, fatty acids, and polysaccharides. Aloe vera gel can be blended with water to create aloe vera juice, which is full of nutrients and a rich source of antioxidants that help fight free radicals. Aloe vera juice is also an excellent source of vitamins C, A, E, beta-carotene, folic acid, calcium, and magnesium.
Positive aspects of aloe vera include its potential health benefits, such as treating sunburns, fighting dental plaque, and lowering blood sugar levels. Regularly eating aloe vera gel may raise blood antioxidant levels, which help combat the damage caused by free radicals, linked to many chronic diseases. Aloe vera has also been studied for its moisturizing effects in treating dry skin associated with occupational exposure, where aloe vera gel gloves improved skin integrity, decreased appearance of fine wrinkles, and decreased erythema.
Negative aspects of aloe vera include the fact that it can contain aloin, which is toxic and found in the skin. Products made from aloe vera usually only use the gel, but processing methods can strip away aloe vera gel’s active ingredients, which are otherwise responsible for the health benefits that come from eating the gel. Modern-day research into aloe veras benefits is mixed, with some evidence showing it can cause cancer in lab animals.
Ingredients or materials found in aloe vera include carbohydrates, mucopolysaccharides, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids, amino acids, vitamin B12, folic acid, choline, mannans, polysaccharides, lectins, anthraquinones, and various other compounds. Aloe vera contains 6 antiseptic agents: lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid, phenols, and sulfur.
