Determination of compounds with laxative action in aloe latex and aloe vera-based products - Chemometric classification of aloe vera plants (Aloe Barbadensis Miller) under different conditions

Abstract The bioactive compounds of latex in aloe vera are associated with several of its medicinal properties. Aloe emodin, aloins A and B, which are present in aloe latex, are known for their laxative action. This study aims to develop a simple HPLC method for the determination of compounds with purgative effect. The correlation of these compounds according to the plant conditions and the position of the leaf in the plant was also evaluated. Aloe vera plants under different conditions and thirteen aloe-based products were analyzed by HPLC-DAD combined with chemometrics. Each leaf from the plants was studied separately for its content in compounds with a laxative effect. The developed method was performed with a C18 column and the total analysis time was 22 minutes. It was observed that, in contrast with field-cultivation plants, the concentrations of aloins in potted plants follow a specific pattern based on the position of the leaves. It was also observed that climatic and environmental conditions have a significant impact on the concentrations of aloins. Principal Component Analysis was performed to evaluate correlations among measurements. The model was able to separate the aloe plants based on their seasonal variation and growing conditions. Finally, it was observed that, in only two out of thirteen products, aloins were present, with the total content exceeded the maximum levels set by EU legislation. The present work provides useful information for the aloins variation among leaves in different position and plants under various conditions.