Method for Converting Aloeresin a to Aloesin

The invention provides a process for hydrolytically converting aloeresin A to aloesin by the following reaction: The amount of aloesin available for extraction from sap of aloe plants is thereby increased and the extraction and purification of the aloesin is also made easier and less costly. As aloesin is more commercially valuable than aloeresin A, the process also increases the commercial value of the sap or aloe bitters from the aloe plant. The process optionally also includes the step of separating the aloesin from the p-coumaric acid. Typical hydrolysis steps that are used in the process are acid hydrolysis, base hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis. In the case of acid hydrolysis, the acid is any suitable organic or inorganic acid, such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid or phosphoric acid. In the case of enzymatic hydrolysis, the hydrolytic enzyme is typically an esterase, a lipase or a protease.