Aloetrade America - Aloe News - Production & Industries

Aloe News - Production & Industries

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:15:26 +0000

In these pages you may find the latest news and articles on aloe, from the production and industries perspective.

You may also read interesting information in our Blog

Aloe: Una alternativa para tratar corrosión industrial

admin — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:31:22 +0000

El empleo de extractos de sábila o aloe vera como inhibidores de la corrosión en ambientes ácidos tiene una alta eficiencia y puede convertirse en una alternativa viable para atender este proceso de degradación en forma ecológica, advirtió Carlos Eugenio González Dzul.

En entrevista, el investigador de la facultad de Ingeniería Química de la Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY), añadió que el empleo de esta planta permitiría evitar el uso de químicos volátiles y cancerígenos como sucede en la actualidad para inhibir la corrosión en rubros como el industrial.

Aloe en Industria textil

admin — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:39:13 +0000

Los tejidos inteligentes cada vez sorprenden más por los desarrollos que logran para dar mayor bienestar y comodidad a los usuarios.

Suena raro, pero usted puede ir caminando con sus jeans muy puestos mientras éstos, sin que se dé cuenta, le van hidratando la piel. ¡Rico!

Estos son los pasos hacia adelante que vienen dando las llamadas prendas o tejidos inteligentes, que desde hace un poco más de una década han llevado al mercado productos para mejorar el bienestar de los usuarios.

En este caso, es el Body Care, unas microcápsulas que se le añaden a la tela o a la prenda y que se activan con el movimiento para humectar la piel.

Anti-cellulite underwear: ahead of its time?

admin — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:21:16 +0000

By Nick Antonovics Sun Feb 4, 7:26 PM ET

PARIS (Reuters) - Underwear that helps women slim or men feel cool and fresh -- purveyors of cosmeto-textiles were out in force at Paris's annual lingerie trade fair on Sunday.

But opinion was divided on whether high-tech fabrics encapsulating slimming agents, perfumes and creams would be a lasting addition to wardrobes or a passing fad.

"There are a lot of brands that have worked on the idea but there has never been a paradigm shift. What interests consumers in the end are fairly traditional products," said Hubert Lafont, chief executive of Barbara, a leading French lingerie firm.

Defence scientists develop high altitude cream for soldiers

admin — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:19:28 +0000

New Delhi, Feb 2 (ANI): The scientists of the Delhi based Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) have developed an Aloe Vera cream for soldiers to be used in high altitude.

Soldiers in Ladakh and the Siachen Glacier region often complain of skin disorders of which one of the major acute mountain sickness is frostbite, which sometimes leads to amputation of affected parts.

The cream called 'Alocal' is basically composed of Aloe juice, Vitamin E acetate, Sesame oil, Methyl paraben, Propyl paraben and Sodium benzoate. 'Alocal' has been found suitable by soldiers of the Indian Army for frostbite and cold injury management.

Aloe & hoodia - There is always something new out of Africa.

admin — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:08:31 +0000

Ex Africa semper aliquid novi: There is always something new out of Africa.

What does the future hold for our emerging indigenous medicinal plant industry?

Africa is slowly awakening to her potential. After centuries of exploitation we are at last claiming our place in the sun. Few fields of endeavour offer the potential of African herbs, medicines and plants. A high proportion of existing drugs have their roots in natural plant medicines, yet this is one area where the African Renaissance can really get ahead. This will not happen without strong local support and infrastructure. If we fail to provide sufficient regulatory protection and state support, we stand the risk of losing this massive potential to offshore interests.

Indigenous South African plant medicines and commodities are becoming ubiquitous in both local and international markets. We see fantastic Aloe ferox products that are by all accounts superior to the well-established Aloe vera variety. Then there are the Sutherlandia (cancer bush) products, Sausage tree creams, Pelargonium and Buchu tinctures, as well as many other great products. And let’s not forget old faithfuls such as rooibos, honeybush and aloe bitters which have already established a solid global reputation. Some of these have become an accepted part of our contribution to the international natural pharmacopoeia, others have yet to emerge.

Speaking to some of those involved in the natural products industry reveals that we are establishing markets for our products all over the world. The real challenge is to produce these products without endangering our biodiversity, while ensuring that the financial benefits accrue to South Africa through our control of production, product creation and marketing.

Historically, when new varieties of plant medicine found their way into the pharmacopoeia of colonial nations, it was often the novelty of the products rather than proven efficacy that won attention. Now that a better pool of empirical evidence exists, we are able to advocate the benefits of our local products and can consequently market them more effectively. Clinical trials and evidence that supports efficacy need to be increased and shared widely, especially among producers of traditionally used botanical products. In the past most of the benefits accrued to the retailers and distributors, while insufficient attention was given to both the financial and environmental sustainability of these plants and the holders of the traditional knowledge. For the reasons outlined above, it is therefore critical that information relating to traditional medicines remains in the public domain.

Connected to this is the issue of patenting and corporate ownership. Who owns our botanical heritage and traditional knowledge? A recent case in point is that of a Hoodia cactus used by the Khoi/San as an appetite suppressant. The active compounds of this plant were isolated by the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) and then licensed to a transnational pharmaceutical corporation. The holders of the knowledge were initially not recognised but through the intervention of NGOs and legal assistance a compromise was reached whereby a small percentage of the royalties for this potentially lucrative blockbuster pharmaceutical will be paid to them. It is critical that good precedents are set to ensure that tribal as well as national interests are protected. However, it is felt that the Hoodia case was a seriously compromised negotiation, coming as it did after the fact.

This is a remarkable problem, as under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, traditional and indigenous knowledge systems are not recognised as valid claims to ownership. This bias underlies many criticisms of the WTO, leaning as it does toward corporate development and consequently away from people-centred development. It is essential that Africa interrogates and challenges these strictures if we are to retain the opportunities that are emerging in this exciting field and question whether this is the correct way to regulate ownership of these products.

For example, patents exist on limited biological and chemical components of rooibos, Buchu, Sceletium, Prunus africana and many other indigenous medicines. Another worrying example is the registration of the name Rooibos as a trademark in the USA, effectively blocking competition. These commercial sleight-of-hand flimflams must be interrogated.

Another problem is the consolidation of control by the pharmaceutical industry through legislative fiat. Big Pharma, as it is known, feels deeply threatened by the natural medicine market and has taken strong steps in both the US and Europe to maintain control by erecting regulatory barriers. Recently a major drive to strictly regulate vitamins in the EU was overturned because of strong public opposition. The use of both patents and overzealous safety and testing regimens will tend to put natural medicines beyond public reach. Of course, this is what Big Pharma wants! This trend is also emerging in South Africa, with strong lobbying from Big Pharma supporting stricter, supposedly ‘science based’ control of our phyto-pharmaceuticals.

The South African Government has pledged over R300 million to support investment in the biotechnology business cluster in South Africa. This support is particularly ironic, given our wealth of biodiversity, and given that similar support has failed to emerge from government with regard to our indigenous medicine and muti industry. This irony is especially bitter in light of our Minister of Health’s recent pledge to support the use of indigenous medicines and cures in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis.

What plants are likely to emerge as cash cows in the next few years? One potential blockbuster is Sceletium - also known as kougoed, or chewing stuff - a relation of the vygie family of plants (Mesembryanthae). This plant was traditionally used as an energy booster and has been shown to have strong antidepressant and antistress characteristics. In a high-stress world where depression is at an all-time high, the potential of this plant is phenomenal. However, extensive research and development must be done.

Other potentially useful plants include the African potato, sour fig (elsewhere an invasive alien plant, incidentally), Bulbinella, wild garlic (Tulbachia ssp.), wild rosemary (a very good antimicrobial), Sutherlandia fructescens and less-researched plants such as African wormwood (wilde-als - Artesema affra) and some of the less widely used buchu species. Many oil-producing plants such as the Pelargonium species are already evolving into a useful niche industry.

There is extensive potential for using land that is unsuitable for conventional crops to grow medicinal cash crops. Besides offering a ready cash flow, this also offers a good way to protect threatened and rare plants, while simultaneously providing a sustainable manner of harvesting.

As Jurgen Kershbaumer of Flora Force health products has said: ‘We are interested in developing partnerships to grow raw materials sustainably’. These partnerships should be encouraged and supported as a national policy priority.

We have massive potential to develop our botanical heritage into an internationally recognised industry but this will take lots of hard work and transparency. The buchu industry is definitely not the way to go, plagued as it is by a Mafia-like hierarchy and overt corruption. On the other hand the formalised models of patenting and secretive development also fail to deliver suitable benefits across the board. Because of these contrasts it is critical that the government supports this industry, similar to the way in which it supports the biotechnology cluster, so that a suitable model can be developed.

Holders of traditional indigenous knowledge and users of indigenous biodiversity must co-operatively strive to secure the potential of this emerging industry by lobbying and interacting with government to promote local interests and development, while continuing to promote our exceptional products and bio-diversity both locally and internationally.

Human endeavour has engaged in three phases of exploitative development; firstly that of enrichment through the exploitation of humans, whether through slavery, indentured labour or the use of poorly paid labour. This has occurred throughout human history andremains an everyday reality.

The second phase of exploitation involves the exploitation of natural resources. The jungles of the world have been cut down for timber and agriculture, the earth has been mined for oil and minerals with little regard for the effects, and marine resources have been exploited to the point of imminent collapse. This phase too, continues to this day.

We are entering the third phase of resource exploitation, that of the exploitation of life. This occurs as we unfold the secrets of genomics and seek to control the products of life through patents and other legal artifice.

South Africa has been sorely exploited in each of the first two phases, namely exploitation of human and natural resources. However, we live in one of the world’s hotspots of biodiversity and it is this biodiversity that provides a key to our successful re-emergence as a resource powerhouse. In order to manage this opportunity it must first be properly identified and maximised, and then nurtured and protected during its nascent stages. This must be made a policy priority at the highest levels of state or we stand to miss what may be our last shot at sustainable advantage in the control of our resources within the international sphere. Both Europe and America wish to gain control of these resources and a lot is at stake. We must protect what is ours for ourselves. Africa for Africans.

*Attributed variously to both Pliny the Elder and Aristotle. The writer would have translated these words as ’Out of Africa always a new liquid!‘ - which is why he gave up on Latin!

Source: The SA Journal of Natural Medicine

Buy Hoodia Gordonii Diet Pills, Noni Juices and Aloe products at
http://www.hoodialatina.com

Buy aloe raw materials and finished products at
http://www.aloetrade.com.ar

Buy Aloe Products in Spain, Italy and Portugal at
http://www.dietahoodia.com

Aloe in Food - Chocolate

admin — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 14:22:16 +0000

Swiss chocolate

Occasionally, something comes across the Food Desk that we can honestly say we've never seen.

Then again, we never looked too hard for a bar of gourmet rhubarb and aloe vera white chocolate.

That concoction - and many others, including hot chilli pepper chocolate - are part of Swiss chocolatier Frey's first foray into the U.S. market.

The company, a Swiss treat since 1887, is teaming with Target for the launch.

Stores nationwide are stocking 3½-ounce bars of Citron and Poivre, White Blueberry, Pecan and Caramel, Bouquet D'Oranges, Café and Cacao, and 10½-ounce bars of Swiss dark and Swiss milk chocolate.

Aloe into the Textile and Apparel Industry

admin — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 14:10:33 +0000

In different articles, we emphasize the increasing use of aloe into the textil and apparel industry.

This article notes a recent product launched in the US market, containing aloe and aimed to consumers with irritated skin.

Looking good: Cuddle up underneath

By Leigh Grogan - Bee Staff Writer Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Story appeared in SCENE section, Page E3

What's your underwear made of?

We knew that would get your attention.

If you're a fan of Cuddl Duds women's underwear, the company has added another winter staple to its line.