Aloe vera

Aloe vera
Plant with flower detail inset
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Aloe
Species:
A. vera
Binomial name
Aloe vera
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Aloe barbadensis Mill.
  • Aloe barbadensis var. chinensis Haw.
  • Aloe chinensis (Haw.) Baker
  • Aloe elongata Murray
  • Aloe flava Pers.
  • Aloe indica Royle
  • Aloe lanzae Tod.
  • Aloe maculata Forssk. (illegitimate)
  • Aloe perfoliata var. vera L.
  • Aloe rubescens DC.
  • Aloe variegata Forssk. (illegitimate)
  • Aloe vera Mill. (illegitimate)
  • Aloe vera var. chinensis (Haw.) A. Berger
  • Aloe vera var. lanzae Baker
  • Aloe vera var. littoralis J.Koenig ex Baker
  • Aloe vulgaris Lam.

Aloe vera (/ˈæloʊ(i) vɛrə, vɪər-/)[3] is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe.[4] It is widely distributed, and is considered an invasive species in many world regions.[4][5]

An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but also grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world.[4] It is cultivated for commercial products, mainly as a topical treatment used over centuries.[4][5] The species is considered attractive for decorative purposes, and is often used indoors as a potted plant.[6]

The leaves of Aloe vera contain significant amounts of the polysaccharide gel acemannan, which can be used for topical purposes.[7] Aloe skin contains aloin which is toxic. Products made from Aloe vera usually only use the gel.

There are many products containing aloe vera's acemannan, including skin lotions, cosmetics, ointments and gels for minor burns, skin abrasions, insect bites, and windburn.[8]

Oral ingestion of aloe vera extracts can be dangerous, because it causes reactions which are not yet fully understood.[5][9] It is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Some people have allergic reactions, even when the aloe vera is applied only to the skin.[5][9]

  1. ^ Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. Tropicos.org
  2. ^ "Aloe vera L. Burm.f. Fl. Indica : 83 (1768)". World Flora Online. World flora Consortium. 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  3. ^ "aloe vera". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
  4. ^ a b c d "Aloe vera (true aloe)". Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d "Aloe". Drugs.com. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  6. ^ Perkins, Cyndi (13 March 2013). "Is Aloe a tropical plant?". SFGate. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  7. ^ Liu, Chang; Cui, Yan; Pi, Fuwei; Cheng, Yuliang; Guo, Yahui; Qian, He (19 April 2019). "Extraction, Purification, Structural Characteristics, Biological Activities and Pharmacological Applications of Acemannan, a Polysaccharide from Aloe vera: A Review". Molecules. 24 (8): 1554. doi:10.3390/molecules24081554. ISSN 1420-3049. PMC 6515206. PMID 31010204.
  8. ^ Surjushe, Amar; Vasani, Resham; Saple, D G (2008). "Aloe vera: A short review". Indian Journal of Dermatology. 53 (4): 163–166. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.44785. ISSN 0019-5154. PMC 2763764. PMID 19882025.
  9. ^ a b "Aloe vera". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2021.