Aloe vera and its medicinal components useful to human health

Abstract

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) is a perennial, drought-resisting, succulent plant belonging to Liliaceae family. Use of Aloe vera in nutritional, pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations draws attention for generation of scientific information. Bioactive compounds from Aloe vera are very effective in various treatments, such as burns, allergic reactions, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, acid indigestion, ulcers, diabetes, skin diseases, dysentery, diarrohoea, piles and inflammatory conditions of the digestive system and other internal organs, including the stomach, small intestine, liver, kidney and pancreas. The present review is therefore, an effort to give a detailed survey of the literature on its traditional, phytochemical, and pharmacological properties.