Aloe vera ()[
]
An evergreen perennial plant, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but also grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world.[ It is cultivated for commercial products, mainly as a topical treatment used over centuries.][ The species is considered attractive for decorative purposes, and is often used indoors as a potted plant.]
The leaves of Aloe vera contain significant amounts of the polysaccharide gel acemannan, which can be used for topical purposes.
Aloe vera acemannan may be used in skin lotions, cosmetics, ointments and gels for minor burns, skin abrasions, insect bites, and windburn.
Oral ingestion of aloe vera may cause acute abdominal pain and cramps, and hepatitis if consumed chronically.[ It should not be used during pregnancy. Some people have Allergy to aloe when used on skin.]
Etymology
The genus name Aloe is derived from the Arabic word alloeh, meaning "bitter and shiny substance" or from Hebrew language אוהלים ahalim, plural of אוהל ahal.
Common names
Common names use aloe with a region of its distribution, such as Chinese aloe, Cape aloe or Barbados aloe.
Taxonomy
The species has several synonyms: Aloe barbadensis Mill., Aloe indica Royle, Aloe perfoliata L. var. vera and Aloe vulgaris Lam.[Linnaeus, C. (1753). Species plantarum, exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas. Vol. 2 pp. i, 561–1200, 1–30,, i,. Holmiae Stockholm: Impensis Laurentii Salvii.] and was described again in 1768 by Nicolaas Laurens Burman as Aloe vera in Flora Indica on 6 April and by Philip Miller as Aloe barbadensis some ten days after Burman in the Gardener's Dictionary.
Techniques based on DNA comparison suggest Aloe vera is relatively closely related to Aloe perryi, a species endemic to Yemen.[Jones WD, Sacamano C. (2000) Landscape Plants for Dry Regions: More Than 600 Species from Around the World. California Bill's Automotive Publishers. USA.]
Description
Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed plant growing to tall, spreading by offsets.[
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Leaves
The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on their upper and lower stem surfaces.[Yates A. (2002) Yates Garden Guide. Harper Collins Australia] The margin of the leaf is Leaf margins and has small white teeth.
Aloe vera leaves contain under study for possible bioactivity, such as , , , acetylated mannans, polymannans, C-, , and other anthraquinones, such as emodin and various .
Flowers
The flowers are produced in summer on a spike up to tall, each flower being pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla long.[ Random House Australia/]
Roots
Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a root symbiosis that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients from the soil.
Distribution
Aloe vera is considered to be native only to the south-east
The species was introduced to China and various parts of southern Europe in the 17th century.[Farooqi, A. A. and Sreeramu, B. S. (2001) Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops. Orient Longman, India. . p. 25.] It is widely naturalized elsewhere, occurring in arid, temperate, and tropical regions of temperate continents.[ "Aloe vera (Linnaeus) Burman f., Fl. Indica. 83. 1768." in Flora of North America Vol. 26, p. 411]
Cultivation
Aloe vera has been widely grown as an ornamental plant. The species is popular with modern gardeners as a topical medicinal plant[ and for its interesting flowers, form, and succulence. This succulence enables the species to survive in areas of low natural rainfall, making it ideal for rockeries and other low water-use gardens.]
In pots, the species requires well-drained, sandy potting soil, and bright, sunny conditions. Aloe plants can turn red from sunburn under too much direct sun, though gradual acclimation may help.
There is large-scale agricultural production of Aloe vera in Australia,[
]
Uses
Two substances from Aloe vera – a clear gel and its yellow latex – are used to manufacture commercial products.[ Aloe gel typically is used to make topical medications for skin conditions, such as burns, wounds, frostbite, , psoriasis, Herpes labialis, and dry skin.][ Aloe latex is used individually or manufactured as a product with other ingredients to be ingested for relief of constipation.][ Aloe latex may be obtained in a dried form called resin or as "aloe dried juice".]
There is conflicting evidence regarding whether Aloe vera is effective as a treatment for wounds or burns.[ There is some evidence that topical use of aloe products might relieve symptoms of certain skin disorders, such as psoriasis, acne, or ,][ but topical application may cause an allergic reaction in some people.][
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Aloe vera gel is used commercially as an ingredient in , beverages, and some desserts,[
]
Topical medication and potential side effects
Aloe vera may be prepared as a lotion, gel, soap or cosmetics product for use on skin as a topical medication.[ For people with allergy to Aloe vera, skin reactions may include contact dermatitis with hives, difficulty with breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.]
Dietary supplement
Aloin, a compound found in the semi-liquid latex of some Aloe species, was a common ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) laxative products in the United States until 2002 when the Food and Drug Administration banned it because manufacturers failed to provide the necessary safety data.[
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Aloe vera juice is marketed to support the health of the digestive system, but there is neither scientific evidence nor regulatory approval for this claim.
Traditional medicine
Aloe vera is used in traditional medicine as a skin treatment. Early records of its use appear from the fourth millennium BCE.[ It is also written of in the Juliana Anicia Codex of 512 CE.][Reynolds, Tom (Ed.) (2004) Aloes: The genus Aloe (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Industrial Profiles. CRC Press. ]
Commodities
Aloe vera is used on where it is promoted as a moisturizer and anti-irritant to reduce chafing of the nose. Cosmetic companies commonly add sap or other derivatives from Aloe vera to products such as makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, incense, shaving cream, or shampoos.
Toxicity
Orally ingested non-decolorized aloe vera leaf extract was listed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment among "chemicals known to the state to Carcinogen or reproductive toxicity",[
]
Since 2016, aloe vera whole leaf extract is classified as a possible human carcinogen (group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Use of aloe vera on the skin is generally not associated with significant side effects.[ Oral ingestion of aloe vera is potentially toxic,][ and may cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea which in turn can decrease the absorption of drugs.][
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Interactions with prescribed drugs
Ingested aloe products may have adverse Drug interaction, such as those used to treat , diabetes, heart disease and potassium-lowering agents (such as Digoxin), and , among others.[
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Gallery
File:Aloe vera leaf showing the gel (1).JPG|Leaf and inner gel
File:Aloe vera gel.jpg|Gel used for
File:Es Lidah Buaya.JPG| Es lidah buaya, an Indonesian Aloe vera iced drink
File:Gelaloevera.JPG|Juice
File:Cut Aloe Vera Leaf.jpg|Cut leaf
File:Aloe vera cut leaf drawing1.jpg|Diagram of leaf: 1 Cuticle, 2 Chloroplast parenchym, 3 Inner tissue, 4 Vascular bundles
File:Aloe Vera Buds.jpg|Buds
File:Aloe Vera flower.jpg|Flower buds
File:Aloe vera flower 2.jpg|Flowers
File:AloeBluhendD2.JPG|Plants of different sizes
File:A potted aloe vera plant.jpg|A potted plant
File:Aloe plant bud.jpg|Basal shoot
External links
