Occurance: Aloe vera, also known as the medicinal aloe, is a succulent plant that probably originated in Northern Africa. Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa and other arid areas. The lack of natural populations of the species has led some botanists to suggest that Aloe vera may be of hybrid origin. The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine.
Distribution: The species of Aloe vera has been widely cultivated throughout the world. The species was introduced to China, India, Pakistan and various parts of southern Europe in the 17th century. The species is found to occur in temperate and tropical regions of Australia, Barbados, Belize, Nigeria, Paraguay and the US. The species is popular with modern gardeners as a putatively medicinal plant and due to its interesting flowers, form and succulence.
Botany of the Aloe vera:
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Genus: Aloe
Species: vera
Phytology: Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 60–100 cm tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on the upper and lower stem surfaces. The margin of the leaf is serrated and has small white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on a spike up to 90 cm tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2–3 cm long. Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a form of symbiotic relationship that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.
Biological Active Compounds: Aloe vera leaves contain a range of biologically active compounds, the best studied being acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones and anthraquinones and various lectins.
Therapeutic value: Aloe vera has a long association with herbal medicine, although it is not known when its medical applications were first discovered. Aloe vera is non-toxic, with no known side effects, provided the aloin has been removed by processing. However, the species is used widely in the traditional herbal medicine of China, Japan, Russia, South Africa, the United States, Jamaica and India.
The alternative medicine industries regularly make claims regarding the soothing, moisturizing and healing properties of Aloe vera. Aloe vera gel is used as an ingredient in commercially available lotion, yogurt, beverages and some desserts. Aloe vera juice is used in case of heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome. Other uses for extracts of Aloe vera include the dilution of semen for the artificial fertilization of sheep, use as fresh food preservative, and use in water conservation in small farms. In addition to topical use in wound or burn healing, internal intake of Aloe vera has been linked with improved blood glucose levels in diabetics and with lower blood lipids in hyperlipidaemic patients. Preliminary studies have suggested oral Aloe vera gel may reduce symptoms and inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis. Topical application of Aloe vera may be effective for genital herpes and psoriasis. Aloe vera extracts have antibacterial and antifungal activities.
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