Chemometrics for Functional Group Distribution, and UV Absorption Potential of Aloe vera L. Gel at Different Growth Periods

First time chemometric analyses have been carried out with the data obtained from ATR-FTIR spectroscopy of freeze-dried Aloe vera gel to study the distribution of functional groups of aloe hydro-gel at different growth periods; phenolic -OH2 = CO2-CH3, COO- and -COC were detected as the predominant functional groups. The presence of conjugated double bonds of component phenolics attributes promising UV radiation absorption potential to aloe gel. The concentration of aloin as estimated with RP-HPLC/DAD ranged from 1.48 +/- 0.26 to 3.51 +/- 0.12 mu g g(-1) freeze-dried gel; the upper values being observed in 3-year-aloe of winter followed by summer season. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.