Twenty years of research on Aloe vera

Aloe vera, sometimes referred as a "miraculous" or "wonder" plant, has been used by mankind for centuries for the treatment of different disorders due to the inner gel of its succulent leaves. Medical usage and applications of the main species, namely Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. are mainly attributed to immunomodulatory or antioxidant activities. Our work on A. vera has begun with the separation of anthraquinones and continued with the purification and characterization of the lectins. In another study, hypoglycemic effect of A. vera leaf extracts was assayed in vivo, followed by the effect of the extracts on several tissues in diabetic rats. A. vera has shown a significant prophylactic effect on Ehrlich ascites tumour cells when given before tumour inoculation in mice. This effect was also seen with the purified lectin and attributed to the immunomodulatory effect of the plant. Assuming that its benefit could also be attributed to the antioxidant activity, the antioxidant potential of the leaves aqueous extract was evaluated. The leaf skin extract showed good antioxidant capacity in all tests while the inner gel did not exhibit any activity. Our work on A. vera continues on the research of the potential use of the plant leaves as anticancer and enzyme inhibitory agent.