Aloe Vera – the money spinner

Aloe vera (meaning shining bitter substance) an ancient herbal plant that have been used for healing burn and wounds for decades and this plant have been mentioned in the Bible. Herbalists know it as “potted plant or potted physician” also knows it.

Due to globalization Aloe vera native to African dry climates is available all over the world, this is mainly because the plant is readily adaptable. Although, Aloe vera is a tropical plant it can survive in freezing temperature as long as the roots are not destroyed due to cold temperature. Even though science and technology have advanced dramatically, there is an increasing trend for organic and herbal alternatives.

Aloe vera is one of the few plants that have been the interest of scientist for decades and many scientific researches have been done to find out its benefits. As more studies are done on this plant it seems that there are more healing properties it possesses. At present, it is found that Aloe vera is effective against diseases such as diabetic, elevated blood lipids due to the presence of compounds such as polysaccharide, mannans, anthraquinones and lectins.

Taxonomy and Characteristics

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Anthophyta

Class: Monocotyledonae

Subclass: Liliidae

Order: Liliales

Family: Aloeaceae

Genus: Aloe

Species: Barbadensis

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) originated in the warm, dry climates of Africa. The species has number of synonymous: Aloe indica Royle, Aloe perfoliata L. var. vera and A. vulgaris Lam.

It is a stem less or short stems succulent and drought-resisting plant growing to 60 to 100cm tall and propagate by offsets (it can spread as far as 6 feet away from the parent plant and grow into a new plant) and seeds. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grayish green and have clear gel in a central mucilaginous pulp. Clinical studies have shown that the pharmacological active substance is concentrated both in the gel and around the rind of the leaves.

The parenchyma cells of the plant contain large amount of pulp. It is an evergreen belonging to the lily family. It is a monocotyledon.

It is native to warm, dry regions, especially southern Europe, Asia and Africa. It grows to its optimal in sunshine and does not require large amount of water. It does not grow well below 32 degree Fahrenheit.

Aloe takes about 4-5 years to mature and a plant can live and reproduce for up to 25 years. It blossom in springtime. Its fruits are small and insignificant.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Aloe vera being a cactus plant constitute of 90-95 % water with an average pH of 4.5. The solid material contains over 75 different chemicals including: vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugars, anthraquinones or phenolic compounds, lignin, saponins, sterols, amino acids and salicylic acid.

• Vitamins – Contains the important anti-oxidants A, C and F. Vitamin B but do not contain vitamin D.

• Minerals - Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, chromium and iron are found in the aloe plant. Magnesium lactate inhibits histidine decarboxylase and prevents the formation of histamine from the amino acid, histadine.

• Enzymes - contains amylase, lipase and important enzyme a carboxy peptidase, inactivates bradykinins and produces anti-inflammatory effect.

• Sugar – are derived from the mucilage layer of the plant, under the rind surrounding the inner parenchyma or gel. Sugars are made up of the 25% of the solid constituent and contain mono- and polysaccharides. The polychain saccharides are by far the most important sugar, comprising of glucose and mannans (Beta - (1, 4) - linked acetylated mannan).

• Anthraquinones – The phenolic compounds are found in the sap. The bitter aloe consists of free anthraquinones and their derivates: Barbaloin-lO- (1151 anhydroglucosyl) — aloe-emodin-9-anthrone), lsobarbaloin, Anthrone-C-glycosides and chromones.

• Saponins – It is a soapy substance and form 3 % of the gel.

• Sallycis Acid – it is an aspirin like compound possessing anti- inflammatory and antibacterial effect.

• Amino Acids – Provides 20 of the 22 amino acids that are needed for human beings and the 5 essential amino acids that human body cannot synthesis and needed to be ingested.

Beneficial Properties

The ancient Egyptians referred to Aloe as the “plant of immortality” and include it with their funerary gifts buried with pharaohs; more and more evidences are arising with its potential healing properties as the time goes.

Some of the beneficial properties are:

• Helps heal wounds – when applied to wounds aloe gel has a mild anesthetic, relieve itching, swelling and pain. It also has an antibacterial and antifungal properties and increased blood flow to the affected area.

• Support Surgical Recovery – Decreases surgical recovery time.

• Soothes burns – can be used for first and second-degree burns.

• Minimize frostbites damage – prevents a decrease in blood flow to the frozen area a common cause of tissue loss in frostbites.

• Screens out radiation – protects the skin from x-ray radiation.

• Heals Psoriasis Lesion – it is a chronic non- contagious disease that mainly affects the skin, studies have indicated that application of aloe vera ointment has significantly reduces the skin psoriasis lesions.

• Eases Intestinal problems – it helps to ease inflammatory bowel diseases. This is done by regulating the gastrointestinal tract pH, increases motility, increasing stool specific gravity and reducing the population of certain microorganism of the gut.

• Lower Blood Sugar in Diabetes – there are studies indicating that diabetic patient given a daily supplement of Aloe vera shows a significant decrease in their blood sugar level.

• Reduces Arthritic Swelling – prevent arthritis and reduces inflammation of the joints that are affected by arthritis. It also prevents the autoimmune reaction connected with some form of arthritis.

There are promising studies and result released for disease such as HIV, Cancer such as lung cancer, etc.

Distribution

The natural range of Aloe is not clear since the species has been cultivated globally. It is suggested that the naturalized stands of the species occur through Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia), Canary and Madeira islands. The species is believed to have been introduced to China, Pakistan, India and various parts of Southern Europe in the later part of the 17th century. The species occur in temperate and tropical temperature and currently it is naturalized in Australia, Barbados, Belize, Nigeria, Paraguay and USA.

Cultivation

Aloe vera can be cultivated on any soil for “dry land management”, sandy, loamy soil is ideal for its cultivation. Plants grow well with moderation irrigation during dry season with adequate fertilizers the benefits can be reaped in a short time span. Temperature requirement is 20-22 degree Celsius.

The process of cultivating Aloe vera involves the following process:

• The ground is to be carefully prepared to keep free from weeds and the soil is ideally kept ideally slightly acidic. The soil should be supplied supplement in the form of ammonium nitrate every year at a rate of 120 pounds per acres.

• The plants are set spaced out by 31 inches in rows and between the rows. At that rate, about 5,000 plants are set per acre. An 8 - 12 inch aloe pop would take about 18 - 24 months to fully mature.

• The plants, in a year's time, would bear flowers that are bright yellow in colour. The leaves are 1 to 2 feet long and are cut without causing damage to the plant, so that it lasts for several years.

• The crop can be harvested 4 times a year. At the rate of 3 leaves cut from each plant, about 12 leaves are the harvest per plant per year. On an average, the yield per acre annually is about 60,000 kg.

• The leaves cut off close to the plant are placed immediately, with the cut end downwards, in a V-shaped wooden trough of about 4 feet long and 12 to 18 inches deep.

• The wooden trough is set on a sharp incline so that the juice, which trickles from the leaves very rapidly, flows down its sides, and finally escapes by a hole at its lower end into a vessel placed beneath.

• It takes about a quarter of an hour to cut leaves enough to fill a trough. The troughs are so distributed as to be easily accessible to the cutters.

• The leaves are neither infused nor boiled, nor is any use afterwards made of them except for manure. When the vessels receiving the juice become filled, the latter is removed to a cask or reserved for evaporation. This may be done at once, or it may be delayed for weeks or even months.

• The evaporation is generally conducted in a copper vessel; at the bottom of this is a large ladle, into which the impurities sink, and are from time to time removed as the boiling goes on.

• As soon as the inspissations has reached the proper point, which is determined solely by the experienced eye of the workman, the thickened juice is poured into large gourds or into boxes, and allowed to harden. (http://www.ikisan.com/ban_htm/aloe_vera.shtml)
Large scale agricultural production is undertaken in Australia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, China, Mexico, India, Jamaica, Kenya, South Africa and USA.

Equipments Required

a. A soaking tank to loosen the dirt from the leaf.

b. An aloe leaf washing machine or hand washing station to wash each individual leaf.

c. A sanitizing rinse to sterilize the leaves.

d. Trimming the aloe leaf to remove the ends and sides. (filet only)

e. Filleting of aloe leaf to remove the gel. (filet only)

f. Grinding to liquefy the gel.

g. Pulp separation to remove the cellulose pulp.

h. Stabilization of aloe gel to achieve microbial protection.

i. Charcoal Decolorization to remove color, and odor.

j. Filtration to remove charcoal.

k. HTST or Vat pasteurization to provide final bacterial stabilization.
The cost for setting up an Aloe vera farm of 100 hectares will produce 50,000 Kg of Aloe vera leaves daily. The equipment necessary for this area of cultivation would approximately cost between 400, 000 USD to 600,000 USD.

Demand

The major market of Aloe vera and its extracts are in Australia, USA and Europe. Aloe vera is not only used for medicinal purpose but it is used in cosmetics, as food ingredients, beverages, in incenses, etc. The demand for Aloe vera is increasing and with scientific studies supporting the medicinal benefits of Aloe vera it is profitable to cultivate Aloe vera.

Conclusion

As more and more studies are being undertaken, positive benefits of Aloe vera a revealed. The cost for cultivating Aloe vera will yield good return of investment. Sri Lanka has an ideal climate for the cultivation of Aloe vera and possibly can utilize its medicinal benefits for diabetes, cholesterol, etc. for the local population at a cheaper cost.

- Asian Tribune -