Aloe vera extract

Latin name(s): Aloe barbadensis, Aloe ferox

Geography: Africa, Mediterranean, Western Asia

Benefits: Soothing, hydrating

Modern categorisation: Botanical extract, humectant

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) and its more unknown cousin, bitter aloe, originate from the Asphodelaceae (Liliaceae) family of lilies native to the arid regions of Southern and Eastern Africa. Over time, aloe was introduced to nearby Gibraltar, China, and Western Asia. 

Also known as Socotrine aloe, bitter aloe is primarily found on the island of Socotra in modern-day Yemen. Legend suggests that after conquering Persia in 333 BCE, Alexander the Great was persuaded by his tutor, Aristotle, to conquer Socotra and harness its healing bitter aloe to heal his wounded soldiers. Whilst this tale is largely unfounded by ancient literature, there is ample evidence for over 6,000 years of medical use of aloes broadly.

A Sumerican clay tablet discovered in Nippur dated to 2200 BCE provides the first description of its application as a laxative, and reference to its healing powers only grew from then. The medical Ebers Papyrus, a corpus of herbal remedies dated to 1500 BCE, also recommends aloe for ingestion.

In later history, aloe maintained its medical relevance and also became revered as a treatment for skin conditions. Strengthening trade networks between Western Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean also increased the availability and use of aloe in medical systems such as Indian Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine. In his first century CE De Materia Medica, Greek physician Dioscorides highly recommends aloe for a rather diverse assortment of grievances:

"It stops discharges of blood from haemorrhoids, brings pterygium [membrane on eye] to a scar, and takes away bruises and low blood pressure with honey. It soothes rough skin, itchiness of the eye corners, and headaches, rubbed with vinegar and rosaceum on the forehead and the temples. With wine it stops the hair falling off [alopecia]; and with honey and wine it is good for the tonsils, as well as the gums and all sores in the mouth."

In modern science, aloe varieties have been extensively studied for their topical and oral benefits. In skincare, aloe vera leaf extracts have been demonstrated to possess strong antioxidant activity owing to Vitamins A, C, and E. It therefore protects the skin from UV and gamma radiation. Humectant monosaccharides and polysaccharides in its gooey tissue and a high water content efficiently bind moisture to the skin. Alongside hormones, the soothing enzyme bradykinase breaks down inflammatory compounds, making aloe a suitable ingredient in sensitive skin cosmetics. Essential minerals like magnesium, selenium, copper, and calcium feed the metabolic pathways our bodies require to survive.

All in all, a miracle plant indeed!

Interested in reading more?

Dioscorides. 2000. De Materia Medica. T.A. Osbaldeston (trans.), IBIDIS: Johannesburg.

Haller Jr, J.S. 1990. "A drug for all seasons. Medical and pharmacological history of aloe." Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 66(6), 647–659.

Scarborough, J. 1982. "Roman Pharmacy and the Eastern Drug Trade: Some Problems as Illustrated by the Example of Aloe." Pharmacy in History 24(4), 135–143.

Sung, C. 2006. "The History of Aloe." In Y.I. Park and S.K. Lee (eds.), New Perspectives on Aloe. Springer: Berlin, 7–17.

Surjushe, A., Vasani, R., Saple, D.G. 2008. "Aloe vera: a short review." Indian Journal of Dermatology 53(4), 163–6.