Given its exponentially growing demand and uses for various applications, aloe vera presents a fine opportunity among medicinal plants.

Aloe vera is one of the oldest and most popular medicinal plants known to man. It’s mentioned in ancient documents, including the New Testament, where it was used with other herbs for embalming.

Now prized for its soothing, moisturizing and healing properties, today’s market is strong and the future is bright.According to Jeff Barrie, Eastern regional sales manager with Aloecorp in Washington, “More people are learning about the benefits of aloe as a nutraceutical and we are seeing more new supplements and drinks containing aloe hitting the market. We are seeing the interest in aloe vera grow and recent market reports support our observations.”

In fact, SPINS reported the combined channel (natural and conventional FDM) experienced a 58-percent increase in sales (52 weeks ending February 18, 2012 versus the prior year) of food items with aloe vera as the primary ingredient; and an 18.9-percent increase in sales of vitamins, supplements, herbs and homeopathic with aloe vera as the primary ingredient.

Peter Hafermann, president of Texasbased Improve USA, a division of Pharmachem Laboratories Inc., agreed that growth continues to be positive in supplements and foods as well personal care products. “Most of the new opportunities are in the beverage category,” he said. “We are seeing this growth in aloe vera gel, aloe vera whole leaf and our popular chunky grind products.”

Trends 

Aloecorp offered the following noteworthy aloe vera statistics:

• Aloe’s traditional health-promoting benefits are supported by nearly 700 published scientific and clinical studies

• Aloe vera contains more than 200 biologically active amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, mineral, enzymes and sterols

• Aloe is an integral part of traditional ayurvedic medicine in India and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) throughout Asia

• Aloe ranks as the No. 2 most traditionally and frequently used ingredient in both Hispanic culture (behind only chamomile) and in Asian culture (behind only red ginseng)

• Aloe is in the top eight most commonly used plant-derived remedies among African-Americans (especially in rural areas)

Aloe vera ingredient sales contribute to a very strong consumer market in the multibillion-dollar arena, Hafermann noted. “Aloe vera is really a ubiquitous ingredient; it can be found in toiletries, wipes, tissues, shampoos, shaving creams, bay diapers, tablets, capsules, beverages foods and almost any other personal care product that one can think of,” he said, adding that as an ingredient the latest growth trend is in beverage applications. “I always tell people that all of the soothing benefits aloe vera offers topically are also offered orally, hence it is an ideal product for beverage applications.”

“While plain aloe vera juice is still selling well through natural food stores and network marketing companies, we are seeing new single-serve drinks on store shelves,” said Barrie. “These are good-tasting, thirst-quenching beverages that contain aloe.”

Science

“Evidence exists in a multitude of areas, including: immune boosting, blood sugar control and digestive health (this includes IBS, ulcerative colitis and other Bowel disorders), where the soothing benefits of aloe vera can aid in ameliorating these debilitating conditions,” noted Hafermann.

A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine assessed the effects of aloe vera cream versus a placebo cream in reducing pain, infection and wound healing after an open hemorrhoidectomy.Researchers recruited 49 patients who were randomly assigned to receive aloe vera cream (24 patients) or placebo (25 patients), which was topically applied to the surgical site three times per day for four weeks. The aloe vera group had significantly less postoperative pain than the placebo group. Also, they experienced significantly greater wound healing than the placebo group.In addition, the aloe vera group required fewer painkillers. The conclusion of these findings suggests that aloe vera is effective in reducing postoperative pain, healing time and analgesic requirements.1

Issues

Aloe is so prevalent that many people may think they know the plant well, but the 400 different species and the Different parts of the aloe vera plant offer disparate health effects from laxative to wound healing, so using the correct formulation is critical, according to the International Aloe Science Council.

A Recent innovation for the ingredient is the higher standardized polysaccharide materials available offering customers security that the product is properly processed and efficacious, said Hafermann. “Improve USA was the first to focus on the large polysaccharide through a unique technique of dehydration.This natural mostly unprocessed inner fillet of the aloe leaf retains all the natural occurring components of the fresh leaf.” Improve USA markets this under its brand DaltonMax700®.

While Barrie said Aloecorp hasn’t seen problems with sourcing, despite more countries entering the aloe vera business, Hafermann argued that product availability is always a concern given the fact that aloe vera leaves are farmed from plants. “These farms could experience detrimental effects based on weather that routinely impacts them.Improve has a very strong, vertically integrated supply chain located in diverse areas to moderate our risk. The company has three processing facilities That allow customers a strong secure supply position,” Hafermann added.

For the future, Barrie said that he believes beauty-from-the-inside-out is a concept that will take hold in the U.S. “Inside beauty products are selling well in Europe and Asia, and drinking aloe will benefit the outer appearance of the skin,” he said. “As for some of the other functional beverage opportunities that have the potential to go mainstream, Datamonitor’s Tom Vierhile has said, ‘Aloe is starting to get some real traction.It has always been highly regarded in Asian specialty stores, but most Americans are familiar with aloe as a cosmetic ingredient and are just learning about the benefits of aloe as a nutraceutical. Aloe seems to be where coconut water was four years ago.’”

Reference: 

1 Eshghi F, Hosseinimehr SJ, Rahmani N, et al.Effects of Aloe Vera Cream on Posthemorrhoidectomy Pain and Wound Healing: Results of a Randomized, Blind, Placebo-Control Study. J Altern Complement Med. Jun2010;16(6):647-50.

FORMOREINFORMATION:

.Aloecorp, (360) 486-7500

.Improve USA, (888) 328-7457