Description[edit]

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 brightgreen and are sometimes striped or mottled. Some aloes native to South Africa are tree-like
(arborescent).[6]

Systematics[edit]
The APG III system (2009) places the genus in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily
Asphodeloideae.[5] In the past it has also been assigned to the families Liliaceae and
Aloeaceae, as well as the family Asphodelaceae, before this was merged into the
Xanthorrhoeaceae.
The circumscription of the genus has varied widely. Many genera, such as Lomatophyllum,[7]
have been brought into synonymy. Species at one time placed in Aloe, such as Agave
americana, have been moved to other genera.[8]
Species[edit]
Main article: List of Aloe species

Over 500 species are accepted in the genus Aloe, plus even more synonyms and unresolved
species, subspecies, varieties, and hybrids. Some of the accepted species are:[3]

Aloe aculeata Pole-Evans

Aloe africana Mill.

Aloe albida (Stapf) Reynolds

Aloe albiflora Guillaumin

Aloe arborescens Mill.

Aloe arenicola Reynolds

Aloe argenticauda Merxm. & Giess

Aloe aristata Haw.

Aloe bakeri Scott-Elliot

Aloe ballii Reynolds

Aloe ballyi Reynolds

Aloe barberae Dyer

Aloe brevifolia Mill.

Aloe broomii Schnland

Aloe buettneri A.Berger

Aloe camperi Schweinf.

Aloe capitata Baker

Aloe ciliaris Haw.

Aloe commixta A.Berger

Aloe comosa Marloth & A.Berger

Aloe corallina Verd.

Aloe decumbens (Reynolds) van Jaarsv.

Aloe dewinteri Giess ex Borman & Hardy

Aloe dichotoma Masson

Aloe dinteri A.Berger

Aloe eminens Reynolds & Bally

Aloe erinacea D.S.Hardy

Aloe excelsa A.Berger

Aloe ferox Mill.

Aloe forbesii Balf.f.

Aloe gracilis Haw.

Aloe haemanthifolia Marloth & A.Berger

Aloe helenae Danguy

Aloe hereroensis Engl.

Aloe inermis Forssk.

Aloe inyangensis Christian

Aloe jawiyon S.J.Christie, D.P.Hannon & Oakman ex A.G.Mill.

Aloe jucunda Reynolds

Aloe juddii van Jaarsv.

Aloe khamiesensis Pillans

Aloe kilifiensis Christian

Aloe maculata All.

Aloe marlothii A.Berger

Aloe namibensis Giess

Aloe nyeriensis Christian & I.Verd.

Aloe pearsonii Schnland

Aloe peglerae Schnland

Aloe perfoliata L.

Aloe perryi Baker

Aloe petricola Pole-Evans

Aloe pillansii L.Guthrie

Aloe plicatilis (L.) Mill.

Aloe polyphylla Pillans

Aloe ramosissima Pillans

Aloe rauhii Reynolds

Aloe reynoldsii Letty

Aloe scobinifolia Reynolds & Bally

Aloe sinkatana Reynolds

Aloe sladeniana Pole-Evans

Aloe squarrosa Baker ex Balf.f.

Aloe striata Haw.

Aloe striatula Haw.

Aloe succotrina Lam.

Aloe suzannae Decary

Aloe tenuior Haw.

Aloe thraskii Baker

Aloe variegata L.

Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.

Aloe viridiflora Reynolds

Aloe wildii (Reynolds) Reynolds

Uses[edit]
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please
help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources.
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February
2012)

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, and is claimed to have some medicinal
effects, which have been supported by scientific and medical research.[4] They can also be
made into types of special soaps.
Historical uses[edit]

Historical use of various aloe species is well documented. Documentation of the clinical
effectiveness is available, although relatively limited.[4][9]
Of the 500+ species, only a few were used traditionally as herbal medicines, Aloe vera again
being the most commonly used species. Also included are A. perryi and A. ferox. The Ancient
Greeks and Romans used Aloe vera to treat wounds. In the Middle Ages, the yellowish liquid
found inside the leaves was favored as a purgative.[citation needed] Unprocessed aloe that contains
aloin is generally used as a laxative, whereas processed juice does not usually contain
significant aloin.[citation needed]
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 to relieve skin discomforts. As an herbal medicine, Aloe vera juice is commonly
used internally to relieve digestive discomfort.[10][11]
Relatively few studies about possible benefits of aloe gel taken internally have been
conducted. Components of Aloe have shown the possibility of inhibiting tumor growth in
animal studies, but these effects have not been demonstrated clinically in humans.[12] Some
studies in animal models indicate that extracts of Aloe have a significant antihyperglycemic

effect, and may be useful in treating Type II diabetes, but these studies have not been
confirmed in humans.[13]
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".[14]
Aloin in OTC laxative products[edit]

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.[15] Most aloe juices today do not contain significant aloin.
Chemical properties[edit]

According to W. A. Shenstone, two classes of aloins are recognized: (1) nataloins, which
yield picric and oxalic acids with nitric acid, and do not give a red coloration with nitric acid;
and (2) 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 bbarbaloins, obtained from Socotrine and Zanzibar Aloe, reddened by ordinary nitric acid only
when warmed or by fuming acid in the cold. Nataloin (2C17H13O7H2O) forms bright-yellow
scales, barbaloin (C17H18O7) prismatic crystals. Aloe species also contain a trace of volatile oil,
to which their odour is due.[citation needed]

Heraldic occurrence[edit]
Aloe rubrolutea occurs as a charge in heraldry, for example in the Civic Heraldry of Namibia.
[16]

Images[edit]

Aloe ferox ("Cape Aloe")

Aloe africana ("Africa Aloe")

Aloe pluridens ("French Aloe")

Aloe excelsa ("Zimbabwe Aloe")

Aloe hexapetala ("Tilt-headed Aloe")

Aloe thraskii ("Dune Aloe")

Aloe arborescens

Blooming Aloe arborescens

Aloe aristata

Aloe cooperi (Aloe plicatilis in background on the right)

Aloe dichotoma

Aloe hereroensis

Aloe parvula

Aloe peglerae

Aloe maculata - prev. A. saponaria ("Soap Aloe")

Aloe striatula ("Hardy Aloe")

Aloe rauhii

Aloe reitzii

See also[edit]

List of Aloe species

List of ineffective cancer treatments

List of Southern African indigenous trees

References[edit]
1.

Jump up ^ 1897 illustration from Franz Eugen Khler, Khler's MedizinalPflanzen

2.

^ Jump up to: a b c "Aloe". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal

Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2013-02-25.

3.

^ Jump up to: a b The Plant List (2010). Version 1. Published on the Internet;
http://www.theplantlist.org/ (accessed July 2013)

4.

^ Jump up to: a b c "Aloe Vera: Science and Safety". NIH National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine. April 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.

5.

^ Jump up to: a b Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards), "Paracryphiaceae",

Angiosperm Phylogeny Website, retrieved 2014-09-19

6.

Jump up ^ Rodd, Tony; Stackhouse, Jennifer (2008). Trees: a Visual Guide.

Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 131. ISBN 9780520256507.

7.

Jump up ^ "Lomatophyllum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2013-02-25.

8.

Jump up ^ "Aloe americana". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2013-02-25.

9.

Jump up ^ Tom Reynolds, ed. (2004). Aloes: the Genus Aloe. Boca Raton:
CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-415-30672-0.

10.

Jump up ^ Wong, Cathy (September 15, 2012). "Heartburn Remedies".

About.com.

11.

Jump up ^ "Aloe IBS study".

12.

Jump up ^ Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert, Panel (2007). "Final report

on the safety assessment of Aloe andongensis extract, Aloe andongensis leaf
juice, Aloe arborescens leaf extract, Aloe arborescens leaf juice, Aloe arborescens
leaf protoplasts, Aloe barbadensis flower extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf, Aloe
barbadensis leaf extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Aloe barbadensis leaf
polysaccharides, Aloe barbadensis leaf water, Aloe ferox leaf extract, Aloe ferox
leaf juice, and Aloe ferox leaf juice extract". Int. J. Toxicol. 26 (Suppl 2): 150.
doi:10.1080/10915810701351186. PMID 17613130.

13.

Jump up ^ Tanaka M, Misawa E, Ito Y, Habara N, Nomaguchi K, Yamada M,

Toida T, Hayasawa H, Takase M, Inagaki M, Higuchi R (2006). "Identification of five
phytosterols from Aloe vera gel as anti-diabetic compounds". Biol. Pharm. Bull. 29
(7): 141822. doi:10.1248/bpb.29.1418. PMID 16819181.

14.
15.

Jump up ^ "Aloe". Cancer Research UK. Retrieved August 2013.

Jump up ^ "Status of certain additional over-the-counter drug category II
and III active ingredients. Final rule". Fed Regist (Food and Drug Administration,
HHS) 67 (90): 311257. 2002. PMID 12001972.

16.

Jump up ^ "Civic Heraldry of Namibia". Heraldry of the World. Ralf

Hartemink. Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 31 March
2013.

External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aloe.

Aloe images

Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Aloe". African plants a

Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.

<img src="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1"
alt="" title="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;" />
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Aloe&oldid=638787180"
Categories:

Aloe

Plants used in Ayurveda

Xanthorrhoeaceae genera

Laxatives

Cosmetics chemicals

Hidden categories:

Articles with 'species' microformats

Articles needing additional references from February 2012

All articles needing additional references

All articles with unsourced statements

Articles with unsourced statements from January 2008

Articles with unsourced statements from December 2012

Articles with unsourced statements from April 2007

Navigation menu
Personal tools

Create account

Log in

Namespaces

Article

Talk

Variants
Views

Read

Edit

View history

More
Search
Special:Search

Go

Navigation

Main page

Contents

Featured content

Current events

Random article

Donate to Wikipedia

Wikimedia Shop

Interaction

Help

About Wikipedia

Community portal

Recent changes

Contact page

Tools

What links here

Related changes

Upload file

Special pages

Permanent link

Page information

Wikidata item

Cite this page

Print/export

Create a book

Download as PDF

Printable version

Languages

Afrikaans

Azrbaycanca

()

Bosanski

Catal

Cebuano

etina

ChiShona

Corsu

Dansk

Deutsch

Eesti

Espaol

Esperanto

Euskara

Franais

Gaeilge

Gaelg

Galego

Hornjoserbsce

Hrvatski

Ido

Italiano

Kreyl ayisyen

Kurd

Latvieu

Lietuvi

Lumbaart

Magyar

Nederlands

Norsk bokml

Ozbekcha

Polski

Portugus

Romn

Simple English

/ srpski

Suomi

Svenska

Tagalog

Trke

Ting Vit

Winaray

Edit links

This page was last modified on 19 December 2014, at 15:21.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike

License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of
the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

Privacy policy

About Wikipedia

Disclaimers

Contact Wikipedia

Developers

Mobile view

"Aloe americana". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal

Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2013-02-25.