Well, when you're talking about Aloe True, we often tend to think simply of a plant with green and fleshy leaves. In fact, behind that plant there is a millenary history and a much more complex composition than one can imagine.
The botanical name by which it is commonly identified is Aloe barbadensis Miller, while the botanical denomination recognized today is Aloe True (L.) Burm. f.. It is a succulent plant belonging to the genus Aloe, native to hot and arid regions, whose spread in the world is also linked to the ancient trade routes between the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean and other areas.
But what makes this plant so interesting?
A STORY THAT SPANS MILLENNIA
L'Aloe is not a recent discovery related to the world of benessere modern
The first testimonies of the use ofAloe date back to antiquity. Historical sources report its use in Mesopotamia as early as 2200 BC, while later its use is documented in ancient Egypt, the Greek world and other cultures. The Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian document dated around 1550 BC, contains several preparations based on Aloe.
In the course of timeAloe has been used in different ways, especially for applications on the skin and, in certain preparations, as a laxative.
It is therefore important to make a distinction: when we talk about gel of Aloe True we should not confuse it with the latex of Aloei.e. the yellowish and bitter part present immediately below the surface of the leaf.
They are two different materials.
THE LEAF OF ALOE: TWO PARTS, TWO COMPOSITIONS
The leaf oftheAloe True can be ideally divided into different structures.
The outermost part consists of the skin.
Immediately under the peel is the latex, a yellowish and bitter substance that contains compounds belonging to the hydroxyanthracene family, including aloin.
Inside the leaf we find the gel, a transparent and viscous mass consisting mainly of water and containing numerous substances, including polysaccharides.
This distinction is crucial.
The European Medicines Agency clearly distinguishes the juice drying of the leaf from the gel of Aloe and specifies that these two preparations have different chemical composition and properties.
For this reason, talk generically about "Aloe Trueno specification what part of the leaf is used and how it is processed I know it can be very confusing
ON GEL INTERIOR AND ITS MAIN COMPONENTS
The gel inside the leaf is the part that has attracted great attention from scientific research.
Among the most studied components we find the Polysaccharide, complex molecules formed by sugars.
One of the best known is theacemannan, a polysaccharide rich in mannose and characterized by acetylated groups.
Scientific research has studied acemannan for its biological characteristics and for its possible role in various cellular and biological processes. Evidence includes in vitro studies, animal models and some clinical applications, but it is important not to turn these results into generalized therapeutic promises.
In gel the following have also been identified:
However, the composition can change significantly depending on the variety, the climatic and soil conditions, the cultivation methods, the harvest and above all the processing and conservation processes.
And this is precisely one of the most interesting aspects ofAloe.
It is not enough to have a plant of Aloe True to automatically have a product equivalent to another.
The quality of the raw material and the process through which the gel is obtained and stored may affect its composition.
ACEMANNANO: ONE OF THE MOST STUDIED PRINCIPLES
Among the components oftheAloe True, acemannan deserves special attention.
It is a polysaccharide present in the matrix of gel and is one of the most studied molecules in research onAloe.
Scientific publications have analysed its structural characteristics and various biological activities, including those related to the modulation of the immune response and tissue repair processes.
A fundamental aspect, however, is that the structure of acemannan can be modified by the extraction and processing processes.
This means that talking about “Aloe True"it is not enough: you also need to know the quality of the raw material, the part of the leaf used and the production process.
The latest research on polysaccharides fromtheAloe is in fact focusing more and more attention on the relationship between molecular structure, processing, organic QUALITY CONTROL
ALOIN: WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT IT
A serious article aboutAloe True must also talk about aloin.
Aloin belongs to the compounds mainly present in the leaf latex and should not be confused with the polysaccharides of gel personnel.
Its presence is one of the reasons why the manufacturing processes oftheAloe intended for consumption require special attention.
Latex preparations of Aloe have traditionally been used as laxatives and the EMA has specifically evaluated this preparation in the context of herbal medicines for the short-term treatment of occasional constipation.
This brings us to an important concept:
Aloe True doesn't automatically mean "gel of the whole leaf. ”
There are different preparations, obtained from different parts of the plant and subjected to different processes.
JARANDILLA DE LA VERA. ALOE PURE It’s not a fad.
L'Aloe True is present today in the food, cosmetics and Nutraceuticalbut its story doesn't come from modern marketing.
Its diffusion is the result of thousands of years of traditional use and a scientific interest that continues to this day.
However, modern research does not have the task of proving that a plant is "miraculous".
The task of research is much more interesting: understand what substances it contains, how they work, what conditions modify its composition and what effects can actually be demonstrated in humans.
And that's the difference between talking about Aloe True with superficiality and really get to know her.
KNOWING THEALOE IT MEANS KNOWING ITS ORIGIN
When we choose a product based on Aloe True, therefore, we should not only be interested in the photograph of the plant on the packaging.
We should ask ourselves more precise questions:
Which species does it come from?
What part of the leaf is used?
It is a gel plan juice of the leaf or other preparation?
How is it processed?
How is the presence of undesirable compounds checked?
What features does the finished product have?
These are simple questions, but they make a big difference.
The quality oftheAloe True is not judged by the color of the leaf. It is judged by the raw material, the composition and the process that leads from the plant to the product.
After thousands of years of history, theAloe True it therefore continues to be a plant of great interest.
Not because it should be considered a universal solution, but because it contains a complex matrix of natural substances that scientific research continues to study.
And know the real Aloe barbadensis Miller it means starting from here: from botany, history, plant chemistry and the quality of processing.