The Chemical Properties of Aloe Vera Plants

The aloe vera plant, a member of the lily family, is 99 percent water. The rest of the plant contains some 75 ingredients including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugars and acids. It is due to this range of chemical ingredients that the aloe vera plants has so many medicinal and cosmetic uses. Keep in mind though, that aloe vera is one of a number of herbal products that can cause side effects in some cases, according "Adverse effects of herbal drugs," a study published in 2008 by the British Journal of Dermatology.

Enzymes, Vitamins and Minerals

• The plant contains amylase and lipase enzymes. These aid digestion by breaking down fats and sugars when taken orally. Another enzyme - carboxypeptidase - acts as an anti-inflammatory. Aloe vera contains antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E. It also has all the B vitamins, but no vitamin D. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron, as well as manganese, copper and zinc are also present in the plant. The magnesium is thought to have an antihistamine effect, hence the plant´s usefulness in reducing itchy rashes.

Sugars

• Sugars comprise about 25 percent of the solid plant matter and are found in the layer surrounding the inner gel. The plant has both monosaccaride and polysaccharide sugars, but the most important ones for healing purposes are the polysaccharides, glucose and mannose. These play an important part in oral aloe vera remedies because they bind to receptor sites in the gut lining and form a barrier. This action helps reduce the symptoms of "leaky gut syndrome." The polysaccharide sugars are also connected to strengthening the immune system.

Anthraquinones

• Aloe vera sap contains phenolic compounds known as anthraquinones. Ingesting large amounts of aloe vera sap is known to have a purgative effect, but smaller doses seem to have the effect of killing microbes in the gut as well as acting as a strong analgesic. When the sap is applied topically to the skin, these chemicals aid the absorption of ultraviolet light and reduce hyper-pigmentation. Within this group of chemicals, the plant contains lignin, which gives the aloe vera plant gel or sap its particular ability to penetrate the skin deeply.

Acids

• Aloe vera also contains salicyclic acid. This compound is similar to aspirin and has both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Salicyclic acid also clears wounds of dead tissue, a process known as debriding, when the aloe vera is applied topically. In addition, the plant contains 20 of the 22 amino acids need by the human body for growth and regeneration. It also contains seven of the eight essential amino acids, which makes aloe vera a useful food supplement.