Plant products have been a source of curative and therapeutic agents since time

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1 1. INTRODUCTION Plant products have been a source of curative and therapeutic agents since time immemorial. The application of plants as medicine dates back to prehistoric period. The early civilizations reveal that a considerable number of drugs that are used in the modern medicine have figured in the ancient manuscripts such as The Rigved, The Bible, The Quran, The Iliad, The Odyssy, History of Herodotus etc. Over 6000 years ago, the ancient Chinese were probably the first to use the natural vegetation as a medicine. India has been a traditionally rich in various types of medicinal plants. Since ancient times, people have been using herbal medicines to cure diseases. The Rig Veda, perhaps the oldest repository of human knowledge written between 4500 and 1600 B.C., contains the earliest mention of the medicinal use of plants (67 plants). Records are available in the ancient manuscripts. The Yajurveda and Atharaveda ( B.C.) contain descriptions of about 290 species of medicinal plants. The famous treatise on Indian system of medicine viz. Charaka Samihita (700 B.C.) and Sushruta Samihita (written in early 1000 B.C.) mention the use of about 1100 and 700 medicinal plants, respectively. Medicinal plants are used as therapeutic potentials for more than 1,000 years. All over the world, medicinal plants are occupying the main role in the traditional system of medicines which includes Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani, Yoga and Naturopathy. About 20,000 species of plants are being used as medicinal plants world over. The plant products constitute about 25% of the prescribed medicines in world (Farnsworth and Bingel 1977, Principe 1989). The most commonly used drugs of modern medicines such as aspirin, quinine, diosgenin, cortisone, etc. have been originated from the medicinal plant sources (Saifi et al. 1971, Mukherjee et al. 1972, Coimbra et al. 1992, Kar et al. 1999, Jafri et al. 2000). WHO emphasize strongly the optimal and rational uses of traditional and natural indigenous folk medicines (WHO 1985, 1994). Demand for medicinal plants is increasing in both developed and developing countries due to growing recognition of natural products being equally effective, safe, non-narcotic, affordable and having no side effects. The acceptance of herbal medicines at global level is increasing day by day, which reflects the

generalized adoption of medicinal plant products in the world. There is large scale international trade in the medicinal plants. One such medicinal plant is Aloe vera.

2 generalized adoption of medicinal plant products in the world. There is large scale international trade in the medicinal plants. One such medicinal plant is Aloe vera. The name was derived from the Arabic word alloeh meaning shining bitter substance. Aloe vera is a xerophytic perennial plant with a short, cylindrical, simple stem of cm (Fig. I). The leaves are cm long, erect, broad, thick and fleshy which are crowded in a basal rosette. The leaves are succulent, glaucous-green in colour, narrowlanceolate in shape with long acuminate tip with small thorns on both edges. Flowers are yellow to red in colour and are borne in dense racemes terminating in the cylindrical spike. Various regional names for Aloe vera are Kuwaargandal (Punjabi), Gheekanwaar (Hindi), Ghrita Kumari, Kumaari, Ghrit Kumaarika (Sanskrit), Indian Aloe (English), Kumari (Malyalam, Oriya), Katarazhai, Kilimukan, Chirukuttali (Tamil), Lolisara (Kannada), Kumarpathu (Gujrati), Chinna Kalabanda (Telgu), Ghrit Kumaari (Bengali), Korepharh (Marathi). The folk name of this plant is Kanniedood, which means can-not die. Most formularies and reference books regard Aloe barbadensis Mill. as the correct species name and Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. as a synonym. According to the International Rules of Botanical Nomenclature, Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. is the legitimate name for the species (Newton 1979, Tucker 1989, Bradley 1992) and it belongs to family Liliaceae. The genus Aloe has also been placed taxonomically in a family called Aloeaceae. Aloeaceae is division/sub-division of family Liliaceae but has limited acceptance. Aloe vera is as old as civilization and has been used in almost as many applications as one can imagine. It has a long history dating from Biblical times. Aloe vera has been used

3 medicinally for several thousands of years in many cultures from Egypt, Greece, Rome to China and India (Marshall 1990). Arabs have a tradition of placing it at graves as a symbol of regeneration and resurrection. The plant is native to South Africa, the Mediterranean region of southern Europe and to the Canary Islands. Aloe vera has been extensively cultivated in the Caribbean Islands and in Mexico since the early 1800s. In the United States, most of the Aloe vera is grown in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, Florida and Southern California. Internationally, Aloe vera crops can be found in Mexico, the Pacific Rim Countries, India, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Australia and Africa. It grows readily in hot, dry climates and currently because of demand, is cultivated in large quantities (Newall et al. 1996). Aloe vera has long been used as a remedy in many cultures. There are anecdotal references to its use in ancient Egypt in 1500 B.C. and it is mentioned in the pharmacopoeia produced by Dioscorides in the first century A.D. (Castleman 1991). Aloe vera has a high enzyme content (about 92 enzymes) which makes it rare and valuable resource. Aloe vera contains mostly water ( %). Other potentially active constituents of Aloe vera include sugars, lignin, saponins, anthraquinones, salicylic acid and amino acids (Antherton 1998). Reynolds and Dweck (1999) listed 16 different polysaccharides that have been extracted from the Aloe vera leaf. A variety of minerals like aluminium, boron, barium, calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, silicon and strontium has been detected in Aloe gel (Yamaguchi et al. 1993). The Aloe vera leaf contains over 75 nutrients and 200 active compounds including 20 minerals, 18 amino acids and 12 vitamins (Park and Jo 2006). It contains all of the eight essential amino acids and 11 of the 14 secondary amino acids. There are many natural medicinal herbs, but Aloe vera is granted with vast array of healing benefits. It can be applied externally and can be taken internally. Aloe vera is world s best natural anti-septic, anti-biotic, anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-toxic, anti-bacterial, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-fungal, immunostimulant and extremely effective intracellular anti-oxidant. This wonderful plant is reported to be used as purgative, analgesic, tonic, pain killer, antiasthmatic, antileukopenic, antipyretic, antihelmintic, decoagulant, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, worms expellent, hairstimulant, hypoglycemic, insecticides, liver stimulant, local anesthetic, rejuvenative, appetite

4 stimulant, stomachache, uterine stimulant, parasite killer (Afzal et al. 1991, Kahlon et al. 1991, Batram 1995, Kawai et al. 1998, Lee et al. 2001, Ferro et al. 2003, Grover et al. 2002, Cock Ian Edwin 2008). Aloe vera has been used for centuries for the above discussed properties. We can say that it is a pharmacy in a pot. Today, this multiutility versatile plant is considered to cure Mankind s A to Z health problems. Long list of diseases cured by Aloe vera includes Allergies, allergies associated with plants or insects, abrasions, acne, anemia, arthritis, treat AIDS, bad breath, burns, boils, bits, blisters, body cleanser, body pain, cataracts, corneal ulcers, cuts, conjunctivitis, coughs, cold, cold sores, constipation, chronic ulcers, dermatitis, dandruff, dry skin, dental sores, diabetes, digestive disorders, dysentery, eczema, edema, eye infection, fever, gingivitis, glaucoma, gastrointestinal ulcers, heat burn, high blood pressure, infected pierced ears, insect stings, joint pain, kidney infections, laxation, lowers blood lipid levels, minor sore throats, migraine headaches, mouth irritations, mouth and gum diseases, muscle cramps, nausea of all kinds, oral disorders, pimples, psoriasis, radiation burns, rashes, ringworm, scars, scalds, sunburns, skin cancers, swelling, tuberculosis, ulcers, vaginitis, venereal sores, wounds of all kinds, warts, x-ray burns, yeast infections and so on (Davis et al. 1987, Fulton 1990, Tarro 1993, Chithra et al. 1998, Mantle et al. 2001, Yagi et al. 2002, Krinsky et al. 2003). In addition to pharmaceutical importance, Aloe vera is widely used in food beverage and cosmetic industry. In the food industry, Aloe is being used as an ingredient for functional foods, mainly as food supplements the development of health drinks, desserts and beverages. In the recent past, the plant has emerged as an important commercial item. Major value added products from Aloe are gel and juice (Fig. II and III). Gel is the pulp of the leaf and juice is obtained by homogenizing and diluting the gel. Aloe gel is the new wonder antiageing agent. Gel is widely used in various medical, cosmetic and neutraceutical applications (Ni et al. 2004). Aloe vera gel is used as an ingredient in commercially available yogurt, beverages and some desserts (Reynolds 2004)

moisturizers, etc. are available worldwide (Fig. IV).

5 The Aloe products are widely adopted as main ingredients in cosmetic and hair care products. Large numbers of Aloe containing beauty products, creams, lotions, soaps, shampoos, oils, facial cleaners, moisturizers, etc. are available worldwide (Fig. IV). International Aloe Science Council (IASC), a non-profit organization certifies Aloe vera products by measuring total solids, calcium, magnesium, malic acid and polysaccharide content.

6 Owning to its multipurpose utility, Aloe has been introduced into cultivation as household plant. It has been in use since ages as folk medicine. It grows wildly in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu states where as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan states are known for its cultivation. Major areas of Aloe production are Alwar in Rajasthan, Satanpalli in Andhra Pradesh, Rajpipla in Gujarat and some parts of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The price of dried Aloes in India ranges from Rs. 600 to Rs per kg depending upon the aloin content and colour of the dried leaves. However, the rate of fresh Aloe leaves varies from Rs per kg. Aloe gels are expensive herbal cosmetics (Chauhan et al. 2007). Brimune, a 100% Aloe Vera juice prepared from organically raised crop is available in 250 ml, 500 ml and 1000 ml jars costing Rs. 150, Rs. 275 and Rs. 500 respectively. It is the first Indian Aloe vera product to be exported to Europe. Besides Europe, the product is also exported to Australia, Costa Rice and Malaysia (Brihans natural products). Washed Aloe vera leaves are sold in the United States for approximately $4.00 per kg (Waller et al. 2004). The current global turnover of raw Aloe leaves costs amount up to US $70 80 million dollars. USA supplies the major bulk of Aloe in world market having a share of 60 65%, whereas Latin American countries 20 25% and Australia, China and India have a market share of only 10%. It is estimated that about thousand rupees could be earned annually by a plant grower from Aloe cultivation (Das and Chattopadhay 2004). Due to vegetative mode of reproduction, spontaneous cytological and genetical aberration acquired by the plants can get fixed up in their genome. With more than hundred years of Aloe cultivation in India, the possibility of existence of genotypic variability in different clones cannot be ruled out. It has become imperative that the Aloe germplasm ranging from household potted plants to commercial cultivation, be investigated extensively for existence of natural variability, if any. The present work was undertaken with aim of collection and screening of North Indian Aloe vera germplasm for morphological, cytological and biochemical variability. Attempt has also been made to induce genetic variability through in vitro techniques. Further, it was also aimed to study the impact of agronomic inputs on yield of value added products of Aloe vera plants.

7 You ask me what were the secret forces which sustained me during my long fasts, well, it was my unshakable faith in God, my simple and frugal life style, and the ALOE whose benefits I discovered upon my arrival in South Africa at the end of the 19 th century. - Mahatma Gandhi

AN ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING OF ALOE VERA

International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research (IJASR) ISSN(P): 2250-0057; ISSN(E): 2321-0087 Vol. 6, Issue 6, Dec 2016, 51-56 TJPRC Pvt. Ltd AN ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING OF ALOE