Throughout its long history in folk medicine Aloe Vera, also called Aloe Barbadenis, has been used as a topical soothing agent for minor wounds and burns. The long pulp-filled leaf was typically broken off and its contents applied directly to the affected area. The Aloe Vera pulp was also traditionally used in drinks and taken internally as an effective laxative and cathartic agent. The properties that aloe imparts to these products derives from its various natural constituents. Nutritionwise, Aloe contains carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and trace amounts of vitamins.
Simple sugars known as mannose and glucose are present among the carbohydrates.
During the process of synthesis within the leaf, the aloe plant manufactures long chain polysaccharides, some of which give aloe its unique healing properties. Galactomannans, a class of polysaccharide found in aloe, are thought to benefit the immune system. Studies indicate that Acemannan may act as an anti-inflammatory, as well as increasing cellular membrane fluidity and permeability. The anthraquinones are another class of substances found in aloe. Anthraquinones, especially aloin, while not nutritive in nature, are the compounds responsible for aloe's laxative and cathartive effect.