CHEMICALS AND NUTRIENTS FOUND IN ALOE BARBADENSIS AND ITS USES


Aloes is the expressed juice of the leaves of the plant. According to W.A  Shemstone, two classes of Aloins are recognized; 
 (1)     Nataloins, which yield picric and oxalic acids with nitric acid and do not give a red coloration with nitric acids.  
(2)     Barbaloins, which yield aloetic acid (Cy H2 N2 O5), chrysmmic acid (C7H2N2O6), prenic and oxalic acids with nitric acid, being reddened by the acid. Nataloin (2C17H13O7H2O) forms bright yellow scales. Barbaloin (C17H18O7) forms yellow prismatic crystals.

Aloe contains over 75 known nutrients which can be divided into the following groups;
Vitamins – Vitamin C and D, Beta-carotene. Minerals – magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Chromium.

Sugar     - Mucopolysacharide
Enzymes – lipase and protease, alkaloids, lignin, saponnins, amino acids and athraquinones (Onuegbu, 2000).

MEDICINAL USES OF  ALOE BARBADENSIS

Aloe barbadensis can be used to treat many ailments both external and internal and comes in the form of tea, jell, juice, salve, capsule and decoction forms when processed (Onuegbu, 2000). The medicinal uses include; treatment of skin rashes, this is achieved by applying only the affected skin (Schweitzer, 1990).
In treating wounds and burns; reports shows that A. barbadensis contains anti-inflammatory acids which are plant steroids (visuthukosol,1995).in vitro studies suggest polysaccharides such as acemannon, help promote skin healing by anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial  and immune stimulating actions.

It also serves as a laxative; this is achieved by mixing A. barbadensis juice, Z. officinal and A. sativum powder and undiluted honey. This is taken orally for a number of days (Schweitzer, 1990).
A. Barbadensis can also be used in the treatment of rheumatism, antihelminitics, treatment of high fever and in combination with the oral hypoglycemic drug, glibenclamide, for effective lowering of blood sugar in people with type 2(non-insulin-dependent) diabetes (Visuthukosol et al,1995).
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