This raw material has a wide range of applications. Its primary function is as a lubricant, imparting a lustrous sheen to the skin and leaving it feeling soft without a greasy film. Additionally, it serves as an excellent liquid carrier capable of holding a large amount of active ingredients. It is used in the formulation of decorative cosmetics, and certain waxes and resins can also be incorporated as blending agents and solubilizers.
Currently, research and practical applications of aloe vera encompass the following areas:
1. Clinical medical research: Aloe vera possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. Experiments have shown that the aloin compounds in aloe vera extracts exhibit antibacterial and antifungal effects; for example, they demonstrate strong inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus oryzae, Candida albicans, and Trichoderma. When ACM from aloe vera gel was injected into female mice simultaneously with the subcutaneous implantation of malignant infiltrating sarcoma cells, tumor cells exhibited degeneration and necrosis, and the survival rate of the mice was significantly improved.
2. Applications in the Cosmetics Industry: However, with the advancement of technology, our lives are undergoing dramatic changes, which has also created a new opportunity for the renewal of the aloe vera industry. Literature indicates that aloe vera contains polysaccharides and amino acids, and certain mucilaginous substances can serve as natural moisturizers. They help restore skin collagen, keeping the skin smooth, hydrated, and elastic, thereby playing a role in delaying aging. Consequently, aloe-based cosmetics currently available on the market, such as aloe creams and aloe facial cleansers, have been developed specifically to leverage these benefits.
3. Applications in the Food Industry: Aloe vera is not only highly popular in China but is also widely recognized and appreciated by the public in Japan. The main variety of aloe vera cultivated in Japan is Aloe arborescens. Some literature indicates that Japanese people sometimes add dried aloe powder directly to milk or other foods for consumption. In China, the development of aloe vera food products began relatively late; currently, products on the market include aloe yogurt, aloe tea, aloe jam, and aloe beverages.
4. Research on Preservation and Shelf Life: Experimental results indicate that crude aloe extracts significantly reduce fungal diseases in Red Fuji apples during storage. For example, they effectively lower the incidence of apple gray mold, apple Penicillium rot, and apple anthracnose, inhibit the expansion of lesion diameters, and extend the apples’ shelf life.
5. Applications in the Textile Industry: Through the use of advanced technologies, aloe vera can even be incorporated into textiles. Reports indicate that Xi’an University of Engineering and Technology collaborated with Inner Mongolia Zhongfu Century Garment Company to develop an aloe vera-infused moisturizing cashmere sweater using microencapsulation technology; testing revealed a significant improvement in the sweater’s moisture absorption. Additionally, a textile finishing agent containing aloe vera components developed by a German company imparts a silky texture to garments.
6. Role in Immune Function: Experiments involving the addition of Chinese herbal additives and aloe polysaccharides to broiler chicken feed showed that, compared to the control group, both T3 and T4 levels in the broiler chickens’ serum were significantly elevated. This indicates that this feed formulation can promote growth in broiler chickens, improve feed conversion efficiency, regulate carbohydrate and fat metabolism, and facilitate the differentiation of organs and tissues.
7. Inhibitory effects on plant pathogens: The widespread use of aloe vera in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries has spurred further research into its properties. Aloe vera juice from Aloe barbadensis var. curassaviensis exhibits excellent antibacterial effects against Bacillus anthracis, Streptomyces, and the fungus responsible for mango pit rot. Research has also found that crude aloe extracts strongly inhibit the occurrence of black spot disease in Chinese cabbage, with an antibacterial efficacy as high as 62.4%. Aloe extracts also exhibit good inhibitory effects against the tomato late blight pathogen, with inhibition zones reaching a diameter of 0.67 mm.
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