The Science behind the Aloe Vera Plant

by hayley on November 9 2009

You might have heard of the healing and anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera. It has always been reported as an effective herbal solution meant for various types of diseases. However, how does this all work? Here we’ll describe to you just what kinds of chemicals are at play in bringing you the many benefits behind the aloe vera plant.

Polysaccharides

These are carbohydrate structures. A sample of polysaccharide is glycogen, which is stored in the muscles and is meant for energy storage for long periods of time. It acts as an extra source of energy. This same structure also controls blood sugar levels during digestion. Hence, diabetes prevention is a suspected benefit of aloe vera.

Lectins

Lectins are specific types of proteins that regulate cell adhesion. As the name implies, this helps bind cells together. Aloe vera is effective for healing wounds faster because of this. Lectins are also important for the immune system since they act as filters, taking any foreign substance away from the body.

Mannans and Polymannans

Mannan is another variety of polysaccharides and is also meant for energy storage. This is the same kind of structure found in yeast. A diet rich in this can help prevent infections, especially for younger people.

Anthraquinone

This is a compound used as a laxative when taken orally. Laxatives aid digestion and encourage more manageable and less painful bowel movement. This is the same reason why the aloe vera plant can aid those with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). This same compound can be found in other types of plant and fungi.

All of these compounds are present in the aloe plant, giving us overall many benefits: anti-inflammatory application, aid for digestion, aid for bowel movement and healing wounds.

Related posts:

  1. Overview of Aloe Vera Benefits The aloe vera plant is a fat water-retaining plant that...
  2. Aloe Vera for Children How safe is aloe vera for children? The aloe vera...
  3. Why Aloe Vera Juice is Good for You The aloe vera plant is a water-containing plant, meant to...
  4. Aloe Vera for Your Teeth and Gums The health of our teeth is important to all of...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

blog comments powered by Disqus

Previous post: Aloe Vera Usage in History

Next post: Try These Aloe Vera Benefits for the Skin