Aloe vera

Aloe vera
File:Aloe vera 2web.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 divisio = [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 plant Class: [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 ordo = [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 familia = [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 genus = [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 species = A. vera
Binomial name
Aloe vera ([http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 Linnaeus

Aloe vera ([http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 A. barbadensis Mill., A. vulgaris Lam.) is a species of [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 native to northern [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 It is a stemless or very short-stemmed [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 plant growing to 80-100 cm tall, spreading by [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 and root sprouts. The [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 are [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with a [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 The [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 are produced on a spike up to 90 cm tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 2-3 cm long.

vera.jpg|left|thumb|Flowers]

Cultivation

Aloe vera is relatively easy to care for in cultivation in frost-free climates. The species requires well-drained sandy potting soil in moderate light. If planted in pot or other containers ensure sufficient drainage with drainage holes.The use of a good quality commercial potting mix to which extra perlite, granite grit, or coarse sand are added is recommended. Alternatively, pre-packaged 'cacti and succulent mixes' may also be used. Potted plants should be allowed to completely dry prior to re-watering. During winter, A. vera may become dormant, during which little moisture is required. In areas that receive frost or snow the species is best kept indoors or in heated glasshouses.

A. vera has a long history of cultivation throughout the drier and [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 regions of the world, both as an [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 plant] and for medicine]. For its herbal and medicinal uses, many of which are shared with related species, see [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361

Food preservative

Researchers at the of Miguel Hernández] in [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 have developed a [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 based on A. vera that prolongs the conservation of fresh produce, such as fresh fruit and [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 This gel is tasteless, colorless and odorless. This natural product is a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic preservatives such as [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 dioxide]. The study showed that at 1°C coated with this gel could be preserved for 35 days against 7 days for untreated grapes. According to the researchers, this gel operates through a combination of mechanics (Serrano et al., 2006), forming a protective layer against the [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 and moisture of the air and inhibiting, through its various [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 and [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 drug|antifungal] compounds, the action of micro-organisms that cause foodborne illnesses.

Medicinal uses

A. vera has been used externally to treat various skin conditions such as cuts, burns and [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 It is alleged that sap from Aloe vera eases pain and reduces [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 Evidence on the effects of A. vera sap on wound healing, however, is contradictory (Vogler and Ernst, 1999). A study performed in the 1990s showed that the healing time of a moderate to severe burn was reduced when the wound was treated on a regular basis with Aloe vera gel, compared to the healing of the wound covered in a gauze bandage (Farrar, 2005). In contrast, another study suggested wounds to which Aloe vera gel was applied were significantly slower to heal (Schmidt and Greenspoon, 1991).

A. vera's beneficial properties may be attributed to [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 present in the inner gel of the leaf, especially acemannan (acetylated mannans). An injectable form of acemannan manufactured and marketed by Carrington Laboratories as Acemannan Immunostimulant™ has been approved in the USA for treatment of [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 (a type of [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 in dogs and cats after clinical trials. It has not been approved for use by humans, and, although it is not a drug, its sale is controlled and it can only be obtained through a veterinary doctor.

Cosmetic companies add sap or other derivatives from A. vera to products such as makeup, moisturisers, [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 and [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 though the effectiveness of Aloe vera in these products remain unknown. A. vera gel is also alleged to be useful for dry skin conditions, especially eczema around the eyes and sensitive facial skin.

An article published in the British Journal of General Practice suggests that A. vera is effective at treating foot] .

Whether or not it promotes wound healing is unknown, and even though there are some promising results, clinical effectiveness of oral or topical A. vera remains unclear at present.

vera juice] may help some people with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.

vera leaf.jpg|thumb|Leaf close up]

Parts that can be used

The lower leaf of the plant is used for medicinal purpose. If the lower leaf is sliced open, the gel obtained can be applied on the affected area of the skin. Leaves and seeds are the two edible parts of Aloe Vera.

Use in foods

In Japan Aloe Vera is commonly used as an ingredient in commercially available [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 are also many companies which produce Aloe Vera beverages.

In Pakistan, the plant has been used for centuries as a [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 and digestive aid. The dried gel is mixed with seeds of various herbs and consumed after a meal.

in the [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 (Pakistan)|Hazara] region of the West Frontier Province] have been using Aloe Vera for centuries to improve physical endurance, probably due to the high nutrient content of the gel.

People in Rajastahn state of India prepare vegetable out of Aloe Vera along with [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 seeds.

People in Tamil Nadu, another state of India prepare a curry using Aloe Vera which is taken along with Indian bread or rice.

Some popular beverages, such as Strawberry Daiquirí], contain Aloe Vera. In Mexico [http://ameritrustshield.com/?id=9361 made out of Aloe Vera are fairly common.

References

• The effect of Acemannan Immunostimulant in combination with surgery and radiation therapy on spontaneous canine and feline fibrosarcomas
• Decreased mortality of Norman murine sarcoma in mice treated with the immunomodulator, Acemannan.
• Induction of Apoptosis in a Macrophage Cell Line RAW 264.7 By Acemannan, a -(1,4)-Acetylated Mannan
• Serrano M, Valverde JM, Guillen F, Castillo S, Martinez-Romero D, Valero D. (2006). Use of Aloe vera gel coating preserves the functional properties of table grapes. J Agric Food Chem 54 (11): 3882-3886. see also.
• Plants for a Future: Aloe vera
• Flora Europaea: Aloe vera (lists only as an introduced plant, contrary to statements of European origin in some other sources)
• Flora of China: Aloe vera

External links

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