Aloe Vera

Description

Aloe vera has been described as a wonder-plant. The colourless jelly-like leaf parenchyma tissue is used in an

 extraordinary array of everyday products, from dishwashing liquid to yoghurt.

Aloe vera has been used for centuries and it is more popular today than ever.

It is cultivated around the world as a crop forits colourless jelly-like leaf parenchyma known as ‘aloe gel’. It is used for a variety of purposes in food, food supplements, herbal remedies and cosmetics.

Aloe vera leaf parenchyma (aloe gel) may be effective when used on the skin against psoriasis, burns, frostbite, and sores caused by the Herpes simplex virus. Research has shown that, taken orally, aloe gel can help to lower cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol, and can help to lower blood glucose levels in people with type II diabetes.

The green outer layer of the leaves of Aloe vera yields a bitter, yellow exudate which has very different properties from those of the colourless parenchyma.

The bitter leaf exudate has traditionally been used as a laxative. However, research has indicated that the active constituents may have harmful effects and can interact with other medicines and herbal remedies