Aloe
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The most widely known species is Aloe vera, or 'true aloe', cultivated as the standard source for pharmaceutical purposes. The genus is native to tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, Jordan, the Arabian Peninsula, India, and various Indian Ocean islands, with some species naturalized in other regions.
Quick Facts
- Type species
- Aloe perfoliata
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The genus name Aloe is derived from the Arabic word al'uluh, meaning 'bitter and shiny substance', or from Hebrew ahalim. Most Aloe species have a rosette of large, thick, fleshy leaves, with tubular flowers that are frequently yellow, orange, pink, or red, borne densely clustered and pendant at the apex of leafless stems. Many species appear stemless, while others have branched or unbranched stems, and some South African species are tree-like.
The APG IV system (2016) places the genus in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae. In the past, it has been assigned to the families Liliaceae and Aloeaceae. Historical use of various Aloe species is well documented, though clinical effectiveness evidence is relatively limited.
Only a few species were traditionally used as herbal medicines, with Aloe vera being the most common, along with A. perryi and A. ferox. The Ancient Greeks and Romans used Aloe vera to treat wounds, and in the Middle Ages, the yellowish liquid inside the leaves was used as a purgative. Unprocessed aloe containing aloin is generally used as a laxative, while processed juice usually does not contain significant aloin.
Reader's Guide
Aloe species are frequently cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens and pots, and many are valued by collectors of succulents. Aloe vera is used both internally and externally as folk or alternative medicine, and around 75% of Aloe species are used locally for medicinal purposes. The plants can be made into soaps or other skin care products.
Numerous cultivars are grown, with Aloe 'Lizard Lips' having gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Aloe variegata has been planted on graves in the belief that this ensures eternal life. Most aloe juices today do not contain significant aloin.
According to Cancer Research UK, a potentially deadly product called T-UP is made of concentrated aloe and promoted as a cancer cure, but there is no evidence that aloe products can help prevent or treat cancer in humans. Aloe species are also used in essential oils as a safety measure to dilute solutions before application to the skin. Aloe perryi, A. barbadensis, A. ferox, and hybrids are listed as natural flavoring substances in the US government Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, and Aloe socotrina is said to be used in yellow Chartreuse.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Aloe (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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