Role of Phytoconstituents in the Aloe-Mediated Nanoparticles

Review Article

Austin J Nanomed Nanotechnol. 2022; 10(1): 1066.

Role of Phytoconstituents in the Aloe-Mediated Nanoparticles

Yadeta AT*

Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Mekdela Amba University, Tulu Awuliya, Ethiopia

*Corresponding author: Adamu Tizazu Yadeta, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Mekdela Amba University, Tulu Awuliya, Ethiopia

Received: September 09, 2022; Accepted: October 04, 2022; Published: October 11, 2022

Abstract

Currently, green, single-pot biomimetic, and/or biological methods of Nanoparticle (NP) synthesis are preferred over chemical and physical methods because of their rapidity, eco-friendliness, non-pathogenicity, and economic attributes. In addition, these biosynthesis methods exclude the use of high temperature, energy, pressure, and toxic chemicals. Through biosynthetic methods, nanotechnology is related to biotechnology. This has advanced nanobiotechnology which is the development of eco-friendly and biosynthetic nanomaterials/nanoparticles. Therefore, nowadays, biogenic or green synthesis of NPs using plants has emerged as a potential nano-factory, and their applications are based on phytochemicals. The chemical constituents identified in Aloe plants include vitamins, minerals, enzymes, polysaccharides, fatty acids, indoles, hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, pyrimidines, alkaloids, etc. Each of these chemicals has potential biological activities that make them essential for in nanotechnology. Aloe phytochemicals play a crucial role in the fabrication of Aloe-based NPs by acting as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents that control the shape and size of the formed NPs. In addition, these phytochemicals play a significant role in the applications of Aloe-based NPs owing to their biological properties. Moreover, it is important to understand the role of phytoconstituents from different Aloe species and in every part of the plants using nanotechnology.

Keywords: Aloe species; Phytoconstituents; Nanoparticles; Fabrication; Applications

Introduction

The development of nanotechnology is a modern multidisciplinary science involving the fields of chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering, the production of Nanoparticles (NPs), both in nature and by humans [1]. The area of nanotechnology is one of the most dynamic views in current-day material science [2]. The word “nanotechnology” refers to the use of matter with dimensions ranging from one to a hundred nanometers at the molecular or atomic level [3]. “Nano” is a Greek word. “Nanos”, means “dwarf, tiny, or very small”. Nowadays, the terms like “creation,” “exploitation,” and “synthesis” are associated with nanotechnology [4]. A nanoparticle is characterized as a little item that acts in the general unit as far as its transport and properties in nanotechnology [5]. There are various chemical and physical methods to synthesize Nanoparticles (NPs). Among them, the sol-gel process, chemical precipitation, chemical vapor deposition, hydrothermal, and microwave methods have been reported mostly [6]. However, these methods are not effective in many aspects. Therefore, currently, green synthesis, single-pot biomimetic, and/or biological methods of synthesis are preferred over chemical and physical methods due to their rapidity, eco-friendliness, nonpathogenic, and economical attributes. Besides, these biosynthesis methods exclude the use of high temperature, energy, pressure, and toxic chemicals [7]. Therefore, nowadays, biogenic or green synthesis of (NPs) using bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, algae, and higher plants have emerged as potential nano factories [8-10] and their applications are based on the phytoconstituents of these living things. Through biosynthesis methods, nanotechnology is related to biotechnology. This has been advanced in nanobiotechnology which is the development of eco-friendliness and biosynthetic nanomaterials/ nanoparticles [11].

The green synthesis of nanomaterials such as silver [12], zinc oxide [13], magnesium oxide [14], gold [15], cerium oxide [16], copper oxide [17], titanium dioxide [18], activated carbon [19], palladium [20] and tin oxide [21] has been conducted extensively in recent years. The reasons that make green synthesis very important are due to the simple work-up procedure, environmentally benign nature, reusable, low cost, and ease of isolation [22]. Nanoparticles have a novel or superior behavior with defined shape and size. This is because of the high surface area to volume ratio. The physicochemical parameters of Nanoparticles (NPs) are different from that of bulk or large material and single atom and molecule [23,24]. The size of Nanoparticles (NPs) is 1-100 nm with their unique surface, optical, electrical, magnetic, and biological properties [25].

Out of various biomaterials employed for these purposes, plant extracts have attracted much attention due to their effectiveness, availability, and green characteristics [26,27]. Additionally, it has been noticed that the NPs prepared using plant extracts are more stable, cheap, monodispersed, and take less time to reduce [28]. The influence of the added particles like phytocomponents such as polysaccharides, flavanones, terpenoids, etc. attached to the nanoparticle can change its overall properties, especially the antimicrobial property [29]. In addition to plant extracts have an intense array of antioxidants such as polyphenols [30,31], reducing sugars [32], nitrogenous bases, and amino acids [33], which can produce nanoparticles of metal and metal oxide from metal ions [34].

Aloe species can store water and important chemical constituents in their swollen and succulent leaves because of their ability to survive in conditions such as hot and dry, which makes them a unique source of phytochemicals [35]. Aloe plants have been widely known and used for centuries as topical and oral therapeutic agents due to their health, beauty, medicinal, and skin care properties [36]. The range of chemical constituents of the Aloe species can be used in preparing beauty and cosmetics, medicinal and pharmaceutical, personal care and toiletry products, and bittering agents in alcoholic drinks, and they are also grown as ornamental plants [37]. The phytoconstituents and bioactivity of Aloe spp. have attracted research interest since the trade in ’drug Aloes’, prepared from the leaf exudate, expanded rapidly in the 19th century [38]. But nowadays, the applications of Aloe plants do not limed to the Aloe alone; it is incorporated into different substances to give novel ideas such as chemical synthesis and drug delivery [39]. Currently, many researchers are focused on the incorporation of Aloe extracts into substances such as metal/metal oxides at the nanoscale. This is due to the Aloe species having a variety of phytocomponents responsible for the target application. Therefore, these phytochemicals have a great role in Aloe-based nanotechnology [11].

However, due to several complexities in the identification of exact chemical components responsible for the synthesis and applications of nanoparticles, the green synthesis of nanoparticles becomes challenging. Moreover, there is a lack of a comprehensive review that presents a general idea about the roles of phytochemicals in both fabrication and applications of Aloe-mediated NPs. Herein; the review summarizes the recent update on these ideas somewhat. In addition to that almost all kinds of literature, fabricated NPs from leaves of Aloe especially, A. vera. But other parts of the plants like flowers and roots are also rich in bioactive compounds. Therefore, it is very important to synthesize NPs from other than leaves of Aloes and identify the roles of responsible phytoconstituents in them.

Aloe Phytoconstituents

The chemical constituents that have been identified in Aloe plants include vitamins, minerals, enzymes, simple and complex polysaccharides, fatty acids, indoles, hydrocarbons, dicarboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, phenolic compounds, phytosterols pyrimidines, and alkaloids with potential biological and toxicological activities [40-42]. The biological properties of Aloe such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumoral, and antioxidant are due to various compounds of Aloe extracts. These properties and activities are synergistic rather than one single class of compounds [43]. If the same climatic, geographic, harvesting time, solvent system, extraction, etc. conditions are applied to the same Aloe species, the part of the plants makes difference in the presence and absence of the phytochemicals. Table 1 shows the different Aloe species’ phytochemicals from the different parts of the plants.