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Published:
May 2, 2026DOI:
10.4314/mejs.v18i1.8Keywords:
Article Details
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Main Article Content
Proximate Analysis, Phytochemical Screening, and Structural Analysis of Aloin Isolated from the Gel of Aloe elegans Todaro
Adamu Tizazu Yadeta
Kebede Taye Desta
Desta Berhe Sbhatu
Abstract
Plants contain several bioactive compounds distributed in all their organs, such as leaves, flowers, bark, seeds, and roots, among others. The gel found in Aloe species primarily consists of water, which makes up approximately 98% of its composition. The gel also contains several classes of both primary and secondary metabolites, including polysaccharides, glycoproteins, phenolic anthraquinones, flavonoids, enzymes, minerals, amino acids, sterols, saponins, and vitamins. The distribution and concentration of these metabolites vary among the different Aloe species. Aloe elegans Todaro is one of the Aloe species that are commonly found in Ethiopia. The plant grows in areas with rocky or limestone landscapes, mainly in regions covered by evergreen bushland or wooded grasslands. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the proximate composition and perform phytochemical screening on the gels of this rarely distributed plant, along with isolating an anthraquinone molecule for the first time. The results showed that the gel had a moisture content of 98.12 ± 0.06%, ash content of 0.16 ± 0.02%, fat content of 0.03 ± 0.02%, protein content of 0.11 ± 0.01%, carbohydrate content of 0.60 ± 0.03%, and energy content of 13.18 kcal. Furthermore, a phytochemical screening analysis revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, and terpenoids, indicating the distribution of several classes of secondary metabolites. Aloin, an anthraquinone compound, was isolated from the crude gel extract using column chromatography assisted by thin-layer chromatography analysis. Structural identification of this compound was achieved by analyzing 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DEPT, and IR data, as well as by comparing the results with literature and chemical profiling databases. To summarize, the results of this study highlight the phytochemical richness and nutritional potential of A. elegans, underscoring its value as a source of pharmacologically relevant compounds and laying a strong foundation for further research. Therefore, to fully understand the biomedical and nutraceutical potential of the plant, future investigations should focus on comprehensive metabolite profiling, bioactivity-guided fractionation, and evaluation of its therapeutic properties.
