Bioactive compounds and therapeutic properties of Aloe vera – A review

Abstract

Aloe vera is a popular herbal medicine and worldwide appreciated for its therapeutic potential. From ancient time, it has been used as a home remedy for different health issues. Many researchers have shown its therapeutic potential and there are many citations of characterization of bioactive compounds from it. A wide range of bioactive compounds have been characterized from Aloe vera. It has a wide range of antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties. Aloe vera can also provide support for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism by maintaining the level of cholesterol and sugar in blood and it can also help to maintain body weight. Due to the presence of higher number of bioactive compounds and prolific therapeutic properties, it is widely used in medicine, cosmetics and food sector. In this review, the characterisation of bioactive compounds from Aloe vera along with the extraction of its gel and encapsulation is reviewed with a discussion on its medicinal properties.