Name: K.

Sai Sameera Class: 10th Roll: 07 Subject: English Topic: Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a species of succulent plant that probably originated in northern Africa. The species does not have any naturally occurring populations, although closely related aloes do occur in northern Africa

Aloe Vera's use can be traced back 6,000 years to early Egypt, where the plant was depicted on stone carvings. Known as the "plant of immortality," aloe was presented as a burial gift to deceased pharaohs. Native to Northern Africa, Aloe Vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 80100 cm tall, spreading by offsets and root sprouts. The leaves are lanceolate, thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with a serrated margin.

The flowers are produced on a spike up to 90 cm tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 23 cm long.

CHEMICAL COMPONENT
Glucomannan Amino Acids Fatty Acids Salicylic acid Minerals

FUNCTIONS
Beneficial for immune system and detoxification Building blocks of protein Anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antibacterial Proper functioning of various enzyme systems , antioxidants Anti-oxidant, energy and amino acid metabolism Purgative , anti-bacterial, anti-viral, analgesic, Anti-diabetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory

Vitamins Anthraquinons Phytosterols

Phytosterols like lophenol, 24-methyl-lophenol, 24-ethyl-lophenol, cycloartanol, 24-methylene-cycloartanol and polyphenolic compounds like aloin and aloe-emodin present in aloe vera have blood glucose lowering properties.

Phytosterols (Sitosterol, Campesterol and Lupeol) which are structurally similar to cholesterol help in reducing serum concentrations of cholesterol.

Active components such as aloe-emodin, aloin A, elgonica dimmer A and bisbenzopyran present in Aloe vera helps in reducing high blood pressure.

Supplementation of 100mg and 200mg of Aloe vera L. gel powder along with nutrition counseling significantly reduced blood glucose levels and blood pressure along with an improvement in lipid profile of the non - insulin dependent diabetes. It is Non- toxic, safe ,cost effective, easy to consume in capsule form

- By Sameera