HISTORY AND BENEFITS OF ALOE VERA

Aloe Vera (Aloe vera) has been used for many purposes for centuries. Approximately 4000 years ago until now aloe vera is very well known for its properties because in its midrib there are various kinds of nutritional content. Aloe vera is thought to have originated in the Canary Islands in western Africa. Has been known as medicine and cosmetics for centuries. This is recorded in the Egyptian Book of Remedies. In the book, it is told that during Cleopatra's time, aloe vera was used as a cosmetic ingredient and skin moisturizer. The Greeks as early as 333 BC have identified aloe vera as a plant that cures all diseases.

 According to Dowling (1985), only 3 types of aloe vera are cultivated commercially in the world, namely: Curacao aloe (Aloe barbadensis Miller), Cape aloe (Aloe ferox Miller), and Socotrine (Aloe perryl baker). Of the three types that are widely used, the species Aloe barbadensis Miller was discovered by Philip Miller. While the type that is widely developed in Indonesia is Aloe chinensis Baker, which comes from China, but is not native to China. This species in Indonesia has been planted in West Kalimantan and is better known as the Pontianak Aloe Vera, which was described by Baker in 1877.The characteristics of this plant are orange flowers, light green fronds, the upper midrib is slightly concave and has white spots. in the midrib when the plant is young.

 In 1980 aloe vera plants in Pontianak, especially in Siantan Hulu, had been developed and cultivated. At that time some were still planted in pots and some were planted in gardens mixed with papaya and vegetables (not yet cultivated specifically). In 1990, aloe vera was gradually cultivated, no longer mixed with papaya or vegetable crops, but began to be planted on special land. Then in 1992, aloe vera was introduced to the wider community.

 Some people use new aloe vera stalks to process it into fresh aloe vera drinks which are sold in stalls on the side of the road (Jalan Budi Utomo). So that at that time only the people of North Pontianak (Siantan Hulu) were able to receive processed products whose raw materials were taken from the aloe vera stalk (not yet known to the wider community). Over time, many aloe vera products have been developed into various processed products ranging from drinks, lunkhead, jelly, crackers, etc. The involvement of related government agencies and Small and Medium Industries which ultimately made the Pontianak Aloe Vera an "icon" of Pontianak City.

 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗘

 Aloe vera belongs to the Liliaceae tribe. Liliaceae are estimated to include 4,000 plant species, divided into 240 genera and further grouped into approximately 12 sub-tribes. Its distribution area covers the whole world. Aloe vera itself has more than 250 types of plants.

 Aloe vera plants can grow in dry areas, such as Africa, Asia, and America. This is because aloe vera can close the stomata of the leaves tightly in the dry season to avoid losing water from the leaves. Aloe vera can also grow in cold climates. Aloe vera is a plant that is efficient in water use, because in terms of plant physiology, this plant is included in the CAM (Crassulance Acid Metabolism) type with drought-resistant properties. In dark conditions, especially at night, the stomata of the leaves open, allowing moisture to enter. Because the air is cold at night, the water vapor is in the form of dew. Stomata that open at night give the advantage that there will be no evaporation of water from the plant body, so that the water in the leaf body can be maintained. Hence plants are able to survive in any dry conditions.

 

 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗨𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗘

 Various kinds of nutritional content in aloe vera leaves include:

 Vitamins, namely A, B1, B2, B3, B12, C, E, Choline, Inositol, Folic Acid

 Minerals, namely Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Iron, Zinc, Chromium

 Enzymes, namely Amylase, Catalase, Cellulose, Carboxypepilase, Carboxyhelulose, Bradykinase

 Amino Acids, namely Arginine, Aspargin, Aspartic Acid, Analine, Serine, Glutamate, Threonine, Glycine, Phenil alanine, Histidine, Isoliucine

 

 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗔𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗘 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗦

 Aloe vera has benefits for human health, such as:

 As an anti-microbial against pathogenic bacteria

 As a body cleanser

 As a stabilizer of blood cholesterol levels

 As body protection because it contains antibiotics

 As an ingredient that slows down premature aging

 As an anti-burn material

 

 𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗬𝗦𝗜𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗘 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗚𝗘𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦

 (in 100 grams of ingredients)

 Water: 99.5%

 Fat: 0.067%

 Carbohydrates: 0.043%

 Vitamin A

 Vitamin C

 Total dissolved solids: 0.49%

 

 𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗡𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗦

 In the past, peatlands were synonymous with problematic lands, but now in Siantan Hulu, peatlands have become productive lands. However, at first it was not easy, because without special treatment the land would not have sufficient results. For this, technology is needed which include: The land must be cleared of weeds, wood residues and stumps, then burnt. The ash from combustion is used to raise the pH. Besides that, a water channel (drainage) is made.

 After the land is clean and there is no standing water which causes the land to become very wet, then it is hoeed to a depth of 20 cm, then the land is left for 7-10 days. After that the process of giving ashes. Next the ground is hoeed so that it becomes loose. The next step is to make planting and planting holes with a spacing of 80 x150 cm accompanied by a mixture of urea or NPK or KCL fertilizer, manure and ash with a ratio of urea or NPK 20 gr / plant, ash 500 gr / plant and manure 500 gr / plant.

 After the land preparation and planting stages have been completed, the next step is to take care / look at the plants by cleaning weeds and cutting the damaged leaves.

 Further fertilization can be done after the plants are 3 months old, starting from the time of planting with the same dose. After the first follow-up fertilization is complete, then gradually the soil beside the left and right of the plant is raised to pile up fertilizer so that it doesn't evaporate in the sun or dissolves in rain, besides that its function is to form mounds (beds). Furthermore, every 3 months it is necessary to provide further fertilization until harvest. In the 3rd further fertilization, urea fertilizer is no longer given and replaced with NPK or KCL with the same dosage and can even be added up to 30 g / plant, while for ash treatment and manure it is still given as usual.

 Harvesting of Aloe Vera plants can be done after the midrib reaches the range of 0.75-1kg / midrib or the plants are 10-12 months old. Harvesting can be done earlier than originally estimated if the planted seeds are larger than the required size.

𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗮: 𝗕𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻

𝗞𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘀: 𝗫 𝗢𝗧𝗞𝗣 𝟮