Effective Aloe Delivery

As with most botanicals, Aloe vera has several different parts and the finished ingredient can be delivered in a variety of forms. “There are three parts of the aloe plant used in most products sold to consumers today: the entire leaf, often seen on labels as “whole leaf;” the inner leaf gel; and the aloe latex,” said Devon Powell, executive director, International Aloe Science Council (IASC). Aloe latex, with its active compounds anthraquinones, is used primarily as a drug and is generally removed from most commercially available aloe vera ingredients, using a variety of processing methods. Whole leaf products generally deliver the entire crushed leaf, which is processed into a juice or gel, or dehydrated to a powder form. The inner leaf gel is generally produced using hand filleting to remove the rind and majority of aloe latex, leaving the gelatinous central part of the leaf.

There are a range of Aloe vera suppliers, many of whom offer value-added ingredients. Among these:

IASC has also established a certification program to help buyers ensure they deliver efficacious Aloe vera ingredients to consumers. Powell explained: “Since the late 1980s, the IASC certification program has offered consumers the ability to know that the products they are using are guaranteed to contain aloe vera. The IASC program tests all products and scientifically verifies the quality and purity of the aloe in products that pass the program standards.”

As consumers remain highly interested in Aloe vera-containing products, formulators are turning to new technologies and delivery systems to turn out new items. Patrick Anderson, Western regional sales manager, Terry Labs, said he is seeing two forces driving innovation in this field. “First is nanotechnology, which gives most raw materials an opportunity to go deeper into skin layers for a more desired effect,” he said. “The second is the concept of beauty from within, which gives aloe an opportunity to work synergistically with other nutraceuticals to get the desired effect from the inside out.”

And the internal delivery options are expanding. “While there are a lot of topical products with aloe, we’re seeing a lot more beverages,” said Jeff Barrie, eastern regional sales manager, Aloecorp. Some are like a liquid multivitamin with aloe, others are plain Aloe vera juice or juice with some flavors. There are also capsules, as many folks like the convenience of supplements.”

As an added benefit, aloe is fairly forgiving for formulators. “Aloe is heat, light and oxygen stable, allowing it to be more readily used without significant issues,” Nuryati Pangestu, research scientist, H.I.T.S., WILD Flavors, which provides formulation and processing assistance. Barrie concurred, noting aloe’s polysaccharides are fairly rugged and hold up well in a variety of production processes.

As Aloe vera continues to spread its healthy influence from the kitchen counter to the shelves of mainstream retailers, it is certain consumers will benefit from its positive effects.