Chemical Analysis Reveals First Molecular Evidence of Aloe in Ancient Egyptian Embalming
Researchers at Marburg University have identified the first molecular evidence that aloe was used in ancient Egyptian embalming. By analyzing 24 historical objects, including a 2,700-year-old mummified skull and an 18th-century pharmacy preparation, the team found compounds specific to the Aloe genus. This discovery challenges previous assumptions that medieval references to aloe in mummy medicine were based on biblical misinterpretations or confusion with agarwood. The study also revealed that a historical mummy-derived remedy offered modest protection against influenza in cell cultures, though the active ingredients remain unidentified.