Aloe

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Aloe (disambiguation).

Aloe
Aloe succotrina[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Tribe: Aloeae
Genus: Aloe
L.[1]
Type species
Aloe perfoliata
L.
Species

See Species

Synonyms[1]
  • Lomatophyllum Willd.
  • Rhipidodendrum Willd.
  • Phylloma Ker Gawl.
  • Pachidendron Haw.
  • Agriodendron Endl.
  • Atevala Raf.
  • Busipho Salisb.
  • Chamaealoe A.Berger
  • × Lomataloe Guillaumin
  • Leptaloe Stapf
  • Aloinella (A.Berger) Lemée
  • Guillauminia A.Bertrand
  • × Alchamaloe G.D.Rowley
  • × Aleptoe G.D.Rowley
  • × Allauminia G.D.Rowley
  • × Alamaealoe P.V.Heath
  • × Aloella G.D.Rowley
  • × Leptauminia G.D.Rowley
  • × Chamaeleptaloe Rowley
  • × Leptaloinella G.D.Rowley
  • × Allemeea P.V.Heath
  • × Aloptaloe P.V.Heath
  • × Lemeea P.V.Heath
  • × Bleckara P.V.Heath
  • × Leminia P.V.Heath
Succulent plants, such as this aloe, store water in their enlarged fleshy leaves, stems, or roots, as shown in this split aloe leaf. This allows them to survive in arid environments.
Aloe Vera houseplant
Spikes on an Aloe Vera houseplant

Aloe (/ˈæloʊ, ˈæloʊi, əˈloʊi/;[3][4][5][6] also written Aloë) is a genus containing over 650 species of flowering succulent plants.[7] The most widely known species is Aloe vera, or "true aloe". It is called this because it is cultivated as the standard source for assorted pharmaceutical purposes.[8] Other species, such as Aloe ferox, are also cultivated or harvested from the wild for similar applications.[9]

The

Aloaceae (now included in the Asphodeloidae) or to a broadly circumscribed family Liliaceae (the lily family). The plant Agave americana, which is sometimes called "American aloe", belongs to the Asparagaceae
, a different family.

The genus is native to tropical and southern

Mediterranean, India, Australia, North and South America, Hawaiian Islands, etc.).[1]

Etymology

The genus name Aloe is derived from the Arabic word alloeh, meaning "bitter and shiny substance" or from Hebrew אוהלים ahalim, plural of אוהל ahal.[11][12][13]

Description

Most Aloe species have a rosette of large, thick, fleshy leaves. Aloe flowers are tubular, frequently yellow, orange, pink, or red, and are borne, densely clustered and pendant, at the apex of simple or branched, leafless stems. Many species of Aloe appear to be stemless, with the rosette growing directly at ground level; other varieties may have a branched or unbranched stem from which the fleshy leaves spring. They vary in color from grey to bright-green and are sometimes striped or mottled. Some aloes native to South Africa are tree-like (arborescent).[14]

Systematics

The

sensu lato
.

The circumscription of the genus has varied widely. Many genera, such as Lomatophyllum,[15] have been brought into synonymy. Species at one time placed in Aloe, such as Agave americana, have been moved to other genera.[16] Molecular phylogenetic studies, particularly from 2010 onwards, suggested that as then circumscribed, Aloe was not monophyletic and should be divided into more tightly defined genera. In 2014, John Charles Manning and coworkers produced a phylogeny in which Aloe was divided into six genera: Aloidendron, Kumara, Aloiampelos, Aloe, Aristaloe and Gonialoe.[17]

Species

Main article: List of Aloe species

Over 600 species are accepted in the genus Aloe, plus even more synonyms and unresolved species, subspecies, varieties, and hybrids. Some of the accepted species are:[7]

In addition to the species and hybrids between species within the genus, several hybrids with other genera have been created in cultivation, such as between Aloe and Gasteria (× Gasteraloe), and between Aloe and Astroloba (×Aloloba).

Multiple Aloe species with a variety of growth forms. UCLA Botanical Garden

Uses

Aloe species are frequently cultivated as ornamental plants both in gardens and in pots. Many aloe species are highly decorative and are valued by collectors of succulents. Aloe vera is used both internally and externally on humans as

folk or alternative medicine.[18] The Aloe species is known for its medicinal and cosmetic properties.[19] Around 75% of Aloe species are used locally for medicinal uses.[19] The plants can also be made into types of special soaps or used in other skin care products (see natural skin care).[20]

Numerous cultivars with mixed or uncertain parentage are grown. Of these, Aloe ‘Lizard Lips’ has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[21]

Aloe variegata has been planted on graves in the belief that this ensures eternal life.[22]

Historical uses

Dioscorides' 1st century AD work.[23]

Historical use of various aloe species is well documented. Documentation of the clinical effectiveness is available, although relatively limited.[8][24]

Of the 500+ species, only a few were used traditionally as

purgative.[23] Unprocessed aloe that contains aloin is generally used as a laxative, whereas processed juice does not usually contain significant aloin.[25]

Some species, particularly Aloe vera, are used in alternative medicine and first aid. Both the translucent inner pulp and the resinous yellow aloin from wounding the aloe plant are used externally for skin discomforts. As an herbal medicine, Aloe vera juice is commonly used internally for digestive discomfort.[26][27]

According to Cancer Research UK, a potentially deadly product called T-UP is made of concentrated aloe, and promoted as a cancer cure. They say "there is currently no evidence that aloe products can help to prevent or treat cancer in humans".[28]

Aloin in OTC laxative products

On May 9, 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule banning the use of aloin, the yellow sap of the aloe plant, for use as a laxative ingredient in over-the-counter drug products.[29] Most aloe juices today do not contain significant aloin.

Chemical properties

According to W. A. Shenstone, two classes of aloins are recognized: (1) nataloins, which yield

barbaloins, which yield aloetic acid (C7H2N3O5), chrysammic acid (C7H2N2O6), picric and oxalic acids with nitric acid, being reddened by the acid. This second group may be divided into a-barbaloins, obtained from Barbados Aloe, and reddened in the cold, and b-barbaloins, obtained from Aloe Socotrina and Zanzibar Aloe, reddened by ordinary nitric acid only when warmed or by fuming acid in the cold. Nataloin (2C17H13O7·H2O) forms bright-yellow scales, barbaloin (C17H18O7) prismatic crystals. Aloe species are used in essential oils as a safety measure to dilute the solution before they are applied to the skin.[30]

Flavoring

Aloe perryi, A. barbadensis, A. ferox, and hybrids of this species with A. africana and A. spicata are listed as natural flavoring substances in the US government Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.[31] Aloe socotrina is said to be used in yellow Chartreuse.[32]

Heraldic occurrence

Aloe rubrolutea occurs as a charge in heraldry, for example in the Civic Heraldry of Namibia.[33]

Gallery

See also

  • List of Aloe species
  • List of ineffective cancer treatments
  • List of Southern African indigenous trees

References

  1. ^ a b c "Aloe". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  2. ^ 1897 illustration from Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen
  3. ^ "Definition of ALOE". 9 August 2023.
  4. ^ "aloe noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com". Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  5. ^ "ALOE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary". Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  6. ^ "The American Heritage Dictionary entry: Aloe".
  7. ^ a b WFO (2022): Aloe L. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-4000001341. Accessed on: 06 Nov 2022
  8. ^ a b "Aloe Vera: Science and Safety". NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. April 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  9. PMID 30235891
    .
  10. ^ a b Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards). "Asphodelaceae". Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  11. ^ Harper, Douglas (2021). "Aloe". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  12. PMID 26986231
    .
  13. ^ Curwin, David (16 March 2008). "aloe". Balashon - Hebrew Language Detective. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  14. ISBN 9780520256507
    .
  15. ^ "Lomatophyllum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  16. ^ "Aloe americana". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  17. S2CID 86714657
    .
  18. S2CID 40123094
    .
  19. ^
    S2CID 228929133
    .
  20. PMID 26151005
    .
  21. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Aloe 'Lizard Lips'". Royal Horticultural Society. 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  22. ^ Klopper, Ronell; Smith, Gideon. "Aloe genus L." PlantZAfrica. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  23. ^
    Juliana Anicia Codex
  24. ISBN 978-0-415-30672-0
    .
  25. ^ "Aloe Vera Juice - How to Make it and its Side Effects". November 20, 2015.
  26. ^ Wong, Cathy (September 15, 2012). "Heartburn Remedies". About.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  27. ^ "Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial Of Aloe Vera For IBS". Medscape. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  28. ^ "Aloe". Cancer Research UK. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  29. PMID 12001972
    .
  30. PMID 30733812
    .
  31. ^ "§172.510 Natural flavoring substances and natural substances used in conjunction with flavors e-CFR".
  32. ^ John Tellman (1900) The Practical Hotel Steward, The Hotel Monthly, Chicago
  33. ^ "Civic Heraldry of Namibia". Heraldry of the World. Ralf Hartemink. Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2013.

Further reading

External links

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