Functional drinks containing herbal extracts (Aloe Vera )

Functional drinks Functional drinks containing herbal containing herbal extracts (extracts (Aloe Vera Aloe Vera ))

By:By:

Hamid Rajabi kousheHamid Rajabi kousheFood science and technology of gorgan university, 2009Food science and technology of gorgan university, 2009

introductionintroductionAloe VeraAloe Vera looks like a cactus but it isn’t – the looks like a cactus but it isn’t – the plant is a member of the lily family which plant is a member of the lily family which includes garlic and onion. Potential use of includes garlic and onion. Potential use of aloe products often involves some type of aloe products often involves some type of processing, e.g. heating, dehydration and processing, e.g. heating, dehydration and grinding. Processing of grinding. Processing of Aloe VeraAloe Vera gel derived gel derived from the leaf pulp of the plant, has become a from the leaf pulp of the plant, has become a big industry worldwide due to the application big industry worldwide due to the application in the food industry. It has been utilized as in the food industry. It has been utilized as a resource of functional food, especially for a resource of functional food, especially for the preparation of health drinks which contain the preparation of health drinks which contain Aloe VeraAloe Vera gel. It is also used in other food gel. It is also used in other food products, for example, milk, ice cream products, for example, milk, ice cream confectionery and so onconfectionery and so on . . Aloe VeraAloe Vera gel also finds gel also finds its application in the its application in the pharmaceutical ,cosmetic and toiletry pharmaceutical ,cosmetic and toiletry industries (tablets and capsules, creams, industries (tablets and capsules, creams, lotions, soaps,…).lotions, soaps,…).

HistoryHistoryAncien records show that the benefits of Aloe Ancien records show that the benefits of Aloe Vera have been known for centuries, with its Vera have been known for centuries, with its therapeutic advantages and healing properties therapeutic advantages and healing properties surviving for over 4000 years. The earliest surviving for over 4000 years. The earliest record of Aloe Vera is on a Sumerian tablet record of Aloe Vera is on a Sumerian tablet dating from 2100 BC. Its antiquity was first dating from 2100 BC. Its antiquity was first discovered in 1862 in an Egyptian papyrus discovered in 1862 in an Egyptian papyrus dated 1550 BC. It was used to great effect by dated 1550 BC. It was used to great effect by Greek and Roman physicians. Researchers have Greek and Roman physicians. Researchers have found that both the ancient Chinese and Indian found that both the ancient Chinese and Indian used Aloe Vera. Egyptian Queens associated its used Aloe Vera. Egyptian Queens associated its use with their physical beauty, while in the use with their physical beauty, while in the Phillipines it is used with milk for kidney Phillipines it is used with milk for kidney infections. Aloes are referred to in the infections. Aloes are referred to in the Bible, and legend suggests that Alexander the Bible, and legend suggests that Alexander the Great conquered the island of Socotra in the Great conquered the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean to secure supplies of Aloes to Indian Ocean to secure supplies of Aloes to treat the battle wounds of his soldiers. treat the battle wounds of his soldiers. Certainly ginseng was recognised as a Certainly ginseng was recognised as a qi qi tonic tonic herb about 5000 years ago (Bown, 2003) and one herb about 5000 years ago (Bown, 2003) and one of the traditional ways of using ginseng was of the traditional ways of using ginseng was to make a tea from its dried root.to make a tea from its dried root.

Aloe Vera Aloe Vera profileprofile

Aloe Vera (Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis Aloe barbadensis Miller) is a Miller) is a perennial plant of liliacea family with perennial plant of liliacea family with turgid green leaves joined at the stem in turgid green leaves joined at the stem in a rosette pattern. Aloe Vera leaves are a rosette pattern. Aloe Vera leaves are formed by a thick epidermis (skin) covered formed by a thick epidermis (skin) covered with cuticle surrounding the mesophyll, with cuticle surrounding the mesophyll, which can be differentiated into which can be differentiated into chlorenchyma cells and thinner walled chlorenchyma cells and thinner walled cells forming the parenchyma (fillet). The cells forming the parenchyma (fillet). The parenchyma cells contain a transparent parenchyma cells contain a transparent mucilaginous jelly which is referred to as mucilaginous jelly which is referred to as Aloe Vera gel. The innermost part of the Aloe Vera gel. The innermost part of the leaf is a clear, soft, moist and consists leaf is a clear, soft, moist and consists of storage carbohydrates such as of storage carbohydrates such as acetylated mannans and over 75 active acetylated mannans and over 75 active ingredients.ingredients.

CompositionComposition

health benefits of Aloe Verahealth benefits of Aloe Vera

• Anti-diabetic effectsAnti-diabetic effects• Immunomodulatory effectsImmunomodulatory effects• Anti-inflammatory effectsAnti-inflammatory effects• Anti-oxidant effectsAnti-oxidant effects• Wound healing effectsWound healing effects• Anti-cancer effectsAnti-cancer effects• Effect on gastric acid secretion and Effect on gastric acid secretion and ulcersulcers

• Skin hydration effectsSkin hydration effects• Hepatoprotective activitiesHepatoprotective activities• Antimicrobial activitiesAntimicrobial activities• Effect on HEART DISEASEEffect on HEART DISEASE

processingprocessing• Traditional hand filleted Aloe Traditional hand filleted Aloe processingprocessing

In order to avoid contamination of In order to avoid contamination of internal fillet with the yellow sap, internal fillet with the yellow sap, the traditional hand-filleting method the traditional hand-filleting method of processing Aloe leaves was of processing Aloe leaves was developed.developed.

• Whole leaf Aloe vera processingWhole leaf Aloe vera processingThis whole leaf process employed in the This whole leaf process employed in the making of aloe juice allows the making of aloe juice allows the cellulose (skin) to be dissolved, as cellulose (skin) to be dissolved, as well as measurable amounts of aloin is well as measurable amounts of aloin is to be removed.to be removed.

Functional drinkFunctional drink

A functional drink can be defined as one A functional drink can be defined as one that offers the consumer additional that offers the consumer additional perceived benefits besides its primary perceived benefits besides its primary function, which is hydration – the function, which is hydration – the maintenance of body fluid at a suitable maintenance of body fluid at a suitable level. The benefits are usually level. The benefits are usually directed towards some aspect of directed towards some aspect of maintaining good health or coping with maintaining good health or coping with the pressures of modern lifestyles. A the pressures of modern lifestyles. A range of functional ingredients, range of functional ingredients, including herbal extracts, is available including herbal extracts, is available to the formulator of functional drinks.to the formulator of functional drinks.

HistoryHistory

The date of the first herbal drink is open to The date of the first herbal drink is open to debate. Certainly ginseng was recognised as a debate. Certainly ginseng was recognised as a qi qi tonic herb about 5000 years ago (Bown, 2003) tonic herb about 5000 years ago (Bown, 2003) and one of the traditional ways of using and one of the traditional ways of using ginseng was to make a tea from its dried root. ginseng was to make a tea from its dried root. Tea (Tea (Camellia sinensisCamellia sinensis) has been drunk in China for ) has been drunk in China for about 3000 years (Bown, 2003) for the about 3000 years (Bown, 2003) for the stimulating effects of its caffeine content. stimulating effects of its caffeine content. Later, liqueurs, although not soft drinks, Later, liqueurs, although not soft drinks, were made from herbs by monks for medicinal were made from herbs by monks for medicinal and tonic purposes. In the mid-1980s a new era and tonic purposes. In the mid-1980s a new era of herbal drinks emerged accompanied by a of herbal drinks emerged accompanied by a message of sophisticated healthiness just as message of sophisticated healthiness just as the drink–drive laws began to take effect in the drink–drive laws began to take effect in many countries and lifestyle became a many countries and lifestyle became a significant issue in affluent societies.significant issue in affluent societies.

Incorporation of extracts in Incorporation of extracts in beveragesbeverages

The role of herbal extracts is primarily a The role of herbal extracts is primarily a marketing issue rather than a technical marketing issue rather than a technical one. Part of the reason for using herbal one. Part of the reason for using herbal extracts in a drink is that the herbs give extracts in a drink is that the herbs give the consumer a perceived benefit and the consumer a perceived benefit and therefore a reason to buy the product. In therefore a reason to buy the product. In most applications, the extract is most applications, the extract is incorporated at the premix or syrup stage incorporated at the premix or syrup stage with other critical ingredients such as with other critical ingredients such as flavourings, colours, high-intensity flavourings, colours, high-intensity sweeteners and preservatives, where these sweeteners and preservatives, where these are used.are used.

Market developmentMarket development

The number of suppliers and distributors has The number of suppliers and distributors has grown in the past few decades. And many of grown in the past few decades. And many of them publish quite good sales growth. You them publish quite good sales growth. You can see continuously increasing sales. An can see continuously increasing sales. An average there is on increase of 14/3% over average there is on increase of 14/3% over last years.last years.