Nutritional and functional properties of Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera contains some water-soluble vitamins such as: thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), folic acid and ascorbic acid (C); and among the fat-soluble vitamins A and E (4.8). Some research suggests that it also contains trace amounts of vitamin B12, which is normally extracted from animal sources.
Vitamin B1 helps the body convert food into energy and collaborates with the activity of the heart and the cardiovascular system, also helping the function of the brain and the nervous system. The deficiency of this vitamin causes (inflammatory or degenerative process of the nerves) resulting in general weakness and painful stiffness of the limbs.
Vitamin B2 works in conjunction with other B vitamins and is important in body growth, red blood cell production, and the release of energy from carbohydrates. The deficiency of this vitamin produces a serious inflammation in the mouth and tongue. In extreme cases, it causes gastrointestinal inflammation with abundant diarrhea.
The main function of vitamin B3 is to convert food into energy and its deficiency results in the disease known as pellagra whose effects are dermatitis, diarrhea and in extreme cases mental disorders.
Folic acid is currently very important, since it has been shown that the intake of this acid prevents congenital malformations of the Central Nervous System that result in spontaneous abortions, deaths at birth, deaths during the first year of life or permanent disability. .
Vitamin C helps the development of healthy teeth and gums, the absorption of iron and the maintenance of normal connective tissue, as well as the healing of wounds. It is also a powerful antioxidant trapping free radicals in the aqueous phase.
The main function of vitamin E is to act as a natural antioxidant since it reacts with the free radicals that are generated in the lipid phase, protecting the lipids of the membranes, it also plays a physicochemical function in the ordering of the lipid membranes, stabilizing the structures of membranes (28). Vitamin A also acts in the lipid phase trapping free radicals and protecting fat-soluble substances from oxidation. In general, this vitamin helps protect the skin so that skin rashes, acne and psoriasis do not occur.
As for the presence of minerals in Aloe Vera, they have been identified: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, sodium, magnesium, manganese, copper, chromium, zinc.
Aloe contains about 17 amino acids, which were detected when the Aloe Vera extract to be studied was fresh, where the main amino acid is Arginine, representing 20% of the total amino acids (29).
It also has enzymes such as oxidase, catalase and amylase (30). Catalase is part of the antioxidant system and is important since its function is to destroy the H2O2 generated during cellular metabolism (31).
Glucomannan is a very soluble fiber, which has an exceptional ability to capture water, forming very viscous solutions. It has a higher molecular weight and higher viscosity than any known fiber. It has been shown to be effective in combating obesity, due to the feeling of satiety it produces; in constipation due to increased fecal volume; it also decreases glucose and insulin levels, probably because it delays gastric emptying and, therefore, makes it difficult for glucose to access the intestinal mucosa (32).
General properties of Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a plant of great medicinal interest used as such for more than 3000 years. Of around 300 species of Aloe, it has been scientifically proven that there are four types that have the greatest medicinal properties: Aloe barbadensis Miller, Aloe perryi Baker, Aloe ferox and Aloe arborescens. However, Aloe barbadensis Miller is considered the most widely used in curative medicine and the most popular in the world, commonly called Aloe vera (3, 8).