Aloe Vera Properties

Aloe vera has a lot of medicinal, cosmetic and cooling properties. Aloe is known to been have used in many ancient civilization for a variety for reasons. Aloe was considered the 'the plant of immortality' by the Egyptians. It was called the 'lily of the dessert' by Africans.

Aloe has useful properties! That is known, and we do know that it can be used to treat a variety of illnesses. Let us look at the aloe vera properties and the components in aloe that are responsible for that property. Aloe vera is a known healer; the main constituents namely, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, lignins, monosaccharide, anthraquinones, enzymes, polysaccharides, salicylic acid, saponins, and sterols, are responsible for the healing properties of aloe vera.

Amino Acids

Aloe Vera Properties

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Proteins are one of the macro nutrients that the body needs. Human beings require 22 amino acids. The body makes them from the food we eat. But 8 amino acids are not produced by our body, rather they are taken directly from some of the foods we eat. Aloe vera contains all the other 8 amino acids, they are isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine, and tryptophan. It also contains few other non-essential amino acids, which are alanine, arginine, asparagine, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, proline, serine, tyrosine, glutamine, and aspartic acid.

Anthraquinones

In small amounts, Anthraquinones are very good. They are anti-bacterial, anti-viral and also analgesic. Anthraquinones have a purgative effect. This enables it to be used to treat bowel irregularities. Some Anthraquinones in aloe vera are aloin (barbaloin), isobarloin, anthranol, aloetic acid, anthracene, ester of cinnamic acid, aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanoic acid, ethereal oil and resistannol.

Enzymes

Enzymes are the ones that break down food we eat into useful components required by our body. They perform the work of a catalyst and aid digestion. Some of the enzymes present in aloe vera are:

  • Amylase (breaks down sugars and starches)
  • Bradykinase (improves immune system, anti-inflammatory and analgesic)
  • Catalase (prevents accumulation of water in the body)
  • Cellulase (aids digestion - cellulose)
  • Lipase (aids digestion - fats)
  • Oxidase
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Proteolytiase (breaks down proteins into their constituent elements)
  • Creatine Phosphokinase (aids metabolism)
  • Carboxypeptidase

Micro Nutrients (vitamins and minerals)

Aloe vera contains the vitamins A, C and E and also 1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12. It contains many minerals too that aid in various functions of our body, which are:

  • Choline
  • Calcium (bone health and heart health)
  • Magnesium (strengthens teeth and bones, activates enzymes, maintains healthy muscles)
  • Zinc (helps in healing wounds, improves brain power; assists with healthy teeth, bones, skin, immune system, and digestive aid)
  • Manganese (activates enzymes, builds healthy nerves, tissues and bones)
  • Chromium (aids in protein metabolism and to balance blood sugars)
  • Selenium which all influence our brain performance
  • Copper (important for red blood cells, skin and hair pigment)
  • Iron (transports O2 and makes hemoglobin in red blood cells)
  • Potassium (helps with fluid balance)
  • Phosphorus (builds bones and teeth, aids in metabolism and maintaining body pH)
  • Sodium (helps with nerve and muscle performance)

Lignins

Lignins are a structural compound with cellulose content. They have high penetrative properties that enable them to make aloe vera penetrate up to 7 layers of skin. This is the reason aloe vera is used to treat dry skin. Saccharides

It contains various saccharides such as glycoprotein, mucopolysaccharide and polysaccharides like galactose, xylose, arabinose, acetylated mannose and, the remarkable, acemannan. They have the ability to boost and improve immune systems.

Apart from these aloe vera also contains some useful fatty acids.

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