Aloe

Aloe Vera

Freeze-dried aloe vera extract is made from the pulp of aloe leaves by exculping the aloin (potent anthraquinone with purgative action) present in the glands on the underside of the leaf; it is rich in acemannan-type polysaccharides, which have several beneficial actions within the body: they have probiotic action (i.e., they stimulate the growth of intestinal flora) and in this way also promote better functioning of the immune system; they have a soothing and inflammatory action on the entire gastrointestinal tract; at sufficient doses they have some detoxifying and inflammatory action at the level of the entire body. Aloe barbadensis Miller (A.vera L.) is a plant native to the northern part of the African continent and later cultivated in the West Indies hence Aloe of the Barbadas.

The drug of the plant consists of the dried juice that is obtained from the leaves from which generally, once cut, the juice is allowed to drain, which is then allowed to condense either naturally or by maceration of the shredded leaves and subsequent boiling of the resulting liquid. In Aloe juice we find mainly C-glycosides called aloins, particularly barbaloin. The highest concentration is found in mature young leaves, while it decreases in older leaves toward the base of the plant. When talking about Aloe gel, one must keep in mind that it is a product obtained by squeezing and free of anthraquinone derivatives. As a principle, aloe acts mainly on the terminal portion of the intestine, and it is precisely when we wish to have benefit on this district that we take it preferably in the evening.

The anthraquinone compounds in particular of our plant are not only responsible for the positive profile on intestinal motility, behaving as propharmaceuticals, promoting the formation of aglycone in the colon by the resident bacterial flora, but the anthraquinone glucosides also give it antibacterial and antifungal action while the mucilages are mostly emollient.