Biochemical Characterization of Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) Collected from District Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

Aloe vera ( Aloe barbadensis) is a popular medicinal plant that is cherished due to its variety of biochemical components with therapeutic, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical values. The purpose of this study was to determine the biochemical characteristics of wild Aloe vera ecotypes of seven sites of District Bagh in Azad Jammu and Kashmir; Dhirkot, Jahala, Banipasari, Awaira, Nindrai, Rehra, and Koteri. The biochemical parameters studied were pH, total soluble solids (TSS), vitamin C (mg/100ml), total acidity (percent), antioxidant activity, total phenolic contents and flavonoids. This was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) experiment and the data were analyzed by the ANOVA method with means divided by LSD test at a critical of P ≤ 0.05. Findings showed that there was very strong location variation on all biochemical parameters. Jahaala samples had the lowest pH (4.60), the lowest TSS (0.73), lowest vitamin C (7.14 mg/100ml), highest acidity (1.30%), lowest antioxidant activity (15.85), lowest phenol content (6.01) and flavonoid content (10.06) and Dhirkot had maximum values of The correlation between pH and acidity and the difference in the antioxidants and phenolics of Aloe vera across locations indicate how soil and environmental conditions can impact the biochemical profile of Aloe vera. The results are useful to the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries, in selecting the biochemically superior Aloe vera ecotypes in Azad Kashmir.