Cosmetics: Aloe Extracts

Aloe extracts, obtained from the Aloe vera plant, have found many uses in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Recently, aloe has been show to relieve symptoms of AIDS and to fight cancer when taken orally. The active ingredients of aloe extracts are lectins and mucopolysaccharides. Producers of aloe believe that the molar mass and its distribution contribute to its efficacy. In this application note, two aloe products are characterized by multi-angle light scattering (MALS).