IASC Update

IASC Announces Winners of 9th Annual Yun-Ho Lee Award for Scientific Merit

1. For the cultivation and analysis of 21 Aloe vera ecotypes and identification of the ones most suitable for gel and latex yield: Alagaukannan G, Ganesh S, Gopal SK Ascertaining genetic variability in Aloe vera L. for growth, yield and quality. Faculty of Agriculture, Gandhigram Rural University, Gandhogram 624 302, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu, India. July 2008. The results of Alagaukannan et al.’s research are potentially useful for growers wanting to supply industry with aloe materials for cosmetics, food, or drug uses.
   
2. For demonstrating the glucose lowering activity of aloe vera gel and powder enriched with aloe chromones isolated from Aloe ferox leaves in a mouse model: Yimam MA, Zhao J, Zhao Y, Foo J, Hong M, Hanna B, Judah N, Jia Q. Aloe chromones improve insulin sensitivity by increase of adiponectin level and their potential in maintaining healthy blood glucose levels. Unigen Pharmaceuticals, Lacey, WA. USA. The research of Yimam et al. suggests a potential for aloe in treatments for diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
   

“The Council received many excellent nominations, and we are pleased to recognize outstanding scientific contributions in two distinct fields of aloe research this year – agriculture and pharmacology” said Executive Director Devon Powell. “The research on aloe continues to grow, and IASC thanks the award winners and nominees for their good work.”

The Yun-Ho Lee Award for Scientific Merit is named in honor of Aloecorp-founder and former-IASC Chairman, Mr. Yun-Ho Lee.

Devon Powell
Executive Director
International Aloe Science Council
301.588.2420
dpowell@iasc.org