Difference between revisions of "Aloe vera"

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{{Taxobox
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{{SPlantbox
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| color = lightgreen
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|familia=Asphodelaceae
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| name = ''Aloe vera''
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|genus=Aloe
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| image = Aloe vera 2web.jpg
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|species=vera
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| image_width = 240px
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|common_name=Aloe vera
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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|habit=cacti-succulent
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| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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| classis = [[monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]
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|Max ht box=80
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| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
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|Max ht metric=cm
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| familia = [[Asphodelaceae]]
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|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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| genus = ''[[Aloe]]''
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|Min wd box=60
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| species = '''''A. vera'''''
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|Min wd metric=cm
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| binomial = ''Aloe vera''
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|Max wd box=120
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| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Nicolaas Laurens Burman|Burm.f.]]
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|Max wd metric=cm
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|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|lifespan=perennial
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|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|exposure=sun, part-sun
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|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|water=moderate, dry
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|features=flowers, edible, drought tolerant
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|flower_season=early summer, mid summer, late summer
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|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|flowers=orange, yellow
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|Temp Metric=°F
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|min_zone=9
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|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|max_zone=12
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|image=Aloe vera flower inset.png
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|image_width=240
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|image_caption=''Aloe vera'' plant with flower detail inset.
 
}}
 
}}
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'''''Aloe vera''''', also known as the '''medicinal aloe''', is a species of [[succulent plant]] that probably originated in Northern [[Africa]], the [[Canary islands]] and [[Cape Verde]].  ''Aloe vera'' grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa and other arid areas.  The species is frequently cited as being used in [[herbal medicine]].
  
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'''''Aloe vera''''' ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''A. barbadensis'' Mill., ''A. vulgaris'' Lam.) is a species of ''[[Aloe]]'', native to northern [[Africa]]. It is a stemless or very short-stemmed [[succulent]] plant growing to 80-100 cm tall, spreading by [[offsets]] and root sprouts. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[lanceolate]], thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with a [[serration|serrated]] [[margin]]. The [[flower]]s are produced on a spike up to 90 cm tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular [[corolla]] 2-3 cm long.
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''Aloe vera'' is a stemless or very short-stemmed [[succulent]] plant growing to 60–100 cm (24–39 in) 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.<ref name="Yates">Yates A. (2002) ''Yates Garden Guide''. Harper Collins Australia</ref> The margin of the leaf is [[Serrate (botany)|serrated]] and has small white teeth. The [[flower]]s are produced in summer on a spike up to {{convert|90|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular [[Corolla (flower)|corolla]] 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long.<ref name="Yates"/><ref name="BPGE">Random House Australia ''Botanica's Pocket Gardening Encyclopedia for Australian Gardeners'' Random House Publishers, Australia</ref> Like other ''Aloe'' species, ''Aloe vera'' forms [[arbuscular mycorrhiza]], a [[symbiosis]] that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Gong M, Wang F, Chen Y |title=[Study on application of arbuscular-mycorrhizas in growing seedings of Aloe vera] |language=Chinese |journal=Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=1–3 |year=2002 |month=January |pmid=12583231 |doi= |url=}}</ref>
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{{Inc|
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''[[Aloe]] vera'', Linn. (''A. perfoliala vera'', Linn. ''A. elongata'', Murr. ''A. barbadensis'', Mill. ''A. vulgaris''. Lam. ''A. flava'', Pers.). Cespitose, the sts. at length 1-1.5 ft. high: lvs. suberect or spreading, gradually narrowed from the base, pale, 2-3 x 12-20 in., irregularly white-blotched and narrow when young and 2-ranked on offsets, the repand margin with weak pale prickles: infl. 2-3 ft. high, often simple; fls. 1 in. long, yellow, the segms. about equaling the oblong tube. Medit. region and intro. generally through the tropics. —The source of "Barbados aloes." Varies in a large Arabian form with broader lvs., taller infl., and fls. shading into orange, var. '''officinalis''', Baker (''A. officinalis'', Forsk., ''A. rubescens'', DC.); a smaller Asiatic form with red-tinged fls., var. '''chinensis''' (''A. indica'', Royle. ''A. chinensis'', Baker); and a hardier garden form of this, var. '''Lanzae''', Berger (''A. Lanzae'', Tod.).
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{{SCH}}
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}}
  
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[[Image:Aloe vera.jpg|left|thumb|Flowers]]
 
 
==Cultivation==
 
==Cultivation==
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Aloe vera is relatively easy to care for in cultivation in frost-free climates. The species requires well-drained sandy potting soil in moderate light. If planted in pot or other containers ensure sufficient drainage with drainage holes.The use of a good quality commercial potting mix to which extra perlite, granite grit, or coarse sand are added is recommended. Alternatively,  pre-packaged 'cacti and succulent mixes' may also be used. Potted plants should be allowed to completely dry prior to re-watering. During winter, ''A. vera'' may become dormant, during which little moisture is required. In areas that receive frost or snow the species is best kept indoors or in heated glasshouses.
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[[Image:Aloe vera A.jpg|right|thumb|200px|''Aloe vera'' can be grown as an ornamental plant.]]
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''Aloe vera'' has been widely grown as an ornamental plant. The species is popular with modern gardeners as a putatively [[medicinal plant]] and due to 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.<ref name="Yates"/> The species is hardy in [[Hardiness zone|zones]] 8–11,  although it is intolerant of very heavy frost or snow.<ref name="BPGE"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/7686.shtml|title=BBC Gardening, ''Aloe vera''|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2008-07-11}}</ref>
  
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''A. vera'' has a long history of cultivation throughout the drier [[tropics|tropical]] and [[subtropics|subtropical]] regions of the world, both as an [[ornamental plant]] and for [[herbalism|herbal medicine]]. For its herbal and medicinal uses, many of which are shared with related species, see [[Aloe]]. <!-- change to [[Aloe (herbal remedy)]] when this info is split off to that page --> <br clear = left>
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In pots, the species requires well-drained sandy potting soil and bright sunny conditions. The use of a good quality commercial propagation mix or pre-packaged "cacti and succulent mix" is recommended as they allow good drainage.<ref name="GA">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2280641.htm|title=Fact Sheet: ''Aloes''|author=Coleby-Williams, J|publisher=Gardening Australia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2008-07-08}}</ref> [[Terracotta]] pots are preferable as they are porous.<ref name="GA"/>  Potted plants should be allowed to completely dry prior to re-watering. During winter, ''A. vera'' may become dormant, during which little moisture is required. In areas that receive frost or snow the species is best kept indoors or in heated glasshouses.<ref name="BPGE"/>
  
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===Food preservative===
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===Propagation===
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Researchers at the [[University of Miguel Hernández]] in [[Alicante]], [[Spain]], have developed a [[gel]] based on ''A. vera'' that prolongs the conservation of fresh produce, such as fresh fruit and [[legume]]s. This gel is tasteless, colorless and odorless. This natural product is a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic preservatives such as [[sulfur dioxide]]. The study showed that [[grape]]s at 1°C coated with this gel could be preserved for 35 days against 7 days for untreated grapes. According to the researchers, this gel operates through a combination of mechanics (Serrano et al., 2006), forming a protective layer against the [[oxygen]] and moisture of the air and inhibiting, through its various [[antibiotic]] and [[antifungal drug|antifungal]] compounds, the action of micro-organisms that cause foodborne illnesses.
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{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
  
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===Medicinal uses===
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===Pests and diseases===
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''A. vera''  has been used externally to treat various skin conditions such as cuts, burns and [[eczema]]. It is alleged that sap from ''Aloe vera'' eases pain and reduces [[inflammation]]. Evidence on the effects of ''A. vera'' sap on wound healing, however, is contradictory (Vogler and Ernst, 1999). A study performed in the 1990s showed that the healing time of a moderate to severe burn was reduced when the wound was treated on a regular basis with ''Aloe vera'' gel, compared to the healing of the wound covered in a gauze bandage (Farrar, 2005). In contrast, another study suggested wounds to which ''Aloe vera'' gel was applied were significantly slower to heal (Schmidt and Greenspoon, 1991).
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The species is relatively resistant to most insect pests, though [[mealy bugs]], [[scale insects]] and [[aphid]] species may cause a decline in plant health.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/a-myersi.html|title=Pest Alert: ''Aloe vera'' aphid ''Aloephagus myersi'' Essi.|publisher=[[Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services]]|accessdate=2008-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/PlantFinder/plant.asp?code=B628|title=Kemper Center for Home Gardening: ''Aloe vera''|publisher=Missouri Botanic Gardens, USA|accessdate=2008-07-11}}</ref>
  
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''A. vera'''s beneficial properties may be attributed to [[glycosaminoglycan|mucopolysaccharides]] present in the inner gel of the leaf, especially [[acemannan]] (acetylated mannans). An injectable form of acemannan manufactured and marketed by Carrington Laboratories as Acemannan Immunostimulant™ has been approved in the USA for treatment of [[fibrosarcoma]] (a type of [[cancer]]) in dogs and cats after clinical trials. It has not been approved for use by humans, and although it is not a drug its sale is controlled and it can only be obtained through a veterinary doctor.
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==Species==
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<!--  This section should be renamed Cultivars if it appears on a page for a species (rather than genus), or perhaps Varieties if there is a mix of cultivars, species, hybrids, etc    -->
  
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Cosmetic companies add sap or other derivatives from ''A. vera'' to products such as makeup, moisturisers, [[soap]]s, [[sunscreen]]s, [[shampoo]]s and [[lotion]]s, though the effectiveness of ''Aloe vera'' in these products remain unknown. ''A. vera'' gel is also alleged to be useful for dry skin conditions, especially eczema around the eyes and sensitive facial skin.
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==Gallery==
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<gallery>
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An article published in the ''British Journal of General Practice'' suggests that ''A. vera'' is effective at treating [[athlete's foot]] {{Fact|date=February 2007}}. The [[topical]] application of ''A. vera'' is not an effective preventative for radiation-induced injuries.  
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File:Aloë-vera-total.JPG|Some varieties of ''Aloe vera'' have no spots.
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File:Aloe_vera_in_Aruba.jpg|''Aloe vera'' growing on a roadside in [[Aruba]]
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Whether or not it promotes wound healing is unknown, and even though there are some promising results, clinical effectiveness of oral or topical ''A. vera'' remains unclear at present.
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File:Aloe fields.jpg|''Aloe vera'' fields
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File:Echte_Aloe_von_oben.JPG|Another ''Aloe vera'' plant
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[[Aloe vera juice]] may help some people with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.
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Image:Aloe vera.jpg|Flowers
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Image:Aloe Vera Plant Flower 2.jpg|Flowers
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Greenleaf Aloe Vera Gel, manufactured by Brihans in India, cites their product as useful in the treatment of acne and undereye circles.  
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Image:Aloe vera Plant Flower 2.jpg|Flowers
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Image:Aloe vera leaf.jpg|Leaf close up
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</gallery>
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[[Image:Aloe vera leaf.jpg|thumb|Leaf close up]]
 
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==Parts that can be used==
 
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The lower leaf of the plant is used for medicinal purpose. If the lower leaf is sliced open, the gel obtained can be applied on the affected area. Leaves and seeds are the two edible parts of Aloe Vera.
 
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===Use in foods===
 
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In Japan Aloe Vera is commonly used as an ingredient in commercially available [[yogurt]].
 
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There are also several Korean companies which produce Aloe Vera beverages.
 
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In Pakistan, the plant has been used for centuries as a [[carminative]] and digestive aid.  The dried gel is mixed with seeds of various herbs and consumed after a meal. 
 
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Tribes in the [[Hazara (Pakistan)|Hazara]] region of the [[North West Frontier Province]] have been using Aloe Vera for centuries to improve physical endurance, probably due to the high nutrient content of the gel.
 
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People in Rajastahn state of India prepare vegetable out of Aloe Vera along with fenugreek seeds.
 
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People in Tamil nadu, another state of India prepare a curry using Aloe Vera which is taken along with Indian bread or Rice.
 
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In Mexico some people make [[smoothies]] out of Aloe Vera.
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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{{commons|Aloe vera}}
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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*[http://www.jaaha.org/cgi/content/abstract/31/5/439 The effect of Acemannan Immunostimulant in combination with surgery and radiation therapy on spontaneous canine and feline fibrosarcomas]
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=92000401&dopt=Abstract Decreased mortality of Norman murine sarcoma in mice treated with the immunomodulator, Acemannan.]
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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*[http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/3/415 Induction of Apoptosis in a Macrophage Cell Line RAW 264.7 By Acemannan, a -(1,4)-Acetylated Mannan ]
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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*Serrano M, Valverde JM, Guillen F, Castillo S, Martinez-Romero D, Valero D. (2006). Use of Aloe vera gel coating preserves the functional properties of table grapes. ''J Agric Food Chem'' 54 (11): 3882-3886. see [http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=30968 also].
 
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*[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Aloe+vera Plants for a Future: ''Aloe vera'']
 
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*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Aloe&SPECIES_XREF=vera&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: ''Aloe vera''] (lists only as an introduced plant, contrary to statements of European origin in some other sources)
 
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*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027555 Flora of China: ''Aloe vera'']
 
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<!-- Please do not add links to websites that sell Aloe Vera products -->
 
  
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[[Category:Aloe]]
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==External links==
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[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
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*{{wplink}}
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[[Category:Flora of Africa]]
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__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 17:32, 7 June 2011


Aloe vera plant with flower detail inset.


Plant Characteristics
Habit   cacti-succulent

Height: ⇕ 80 cm"cm" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 80.
Width: ⇔ 60 cm"cm" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 60. to 120 cm"cm" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 120.
Lifespan: ⌛ perennial
Bloom: ❀ early summer, mid summer, late summer
Cultivation
Exposure: ☼ sun, part-sun
Water: ◍ moderate, dry
Features: ✓ flowers, edible, drought tolerant
USDA Zones: 9 to 12
Flower features: ❀ orange, yellow
Scientific Names

Asphodelaceae >

Aloe >

vera >


Aloe vera, also known as the medicinal aloe, is a species of succulent plant that probably originated in Northern Africa, the Canary islands and Cape Verde. Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa and other arid areas. The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine.

Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 60–100 cm (24–39 in) 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.[1] 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 in tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long.[1][2] Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.[3]


Read about Aloe vera in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Aloe vera, Linn. (A. perfoliala vera, Linn. A. elongata, Murr. A. barbadensis, Mill. A. vulgaris. Lam. A. flava, Pers.). Cespitose, the sts. at length 1-1.5 ft. high: lvs. suberect or spreading, gradually narrowed from the base, pale, 2-3 x 12-20 in., irregularly white-blotched and narrow when young and 2-ranked on offsets, the repand margin with weak pale prickles: infl. 2-3 ft. high, often simple; fls. 1 in. long, yellow, the segms. about equaling the oblong tube. Medit. region and intro. generally through the tropics. —The source of "Barbados aloes." Varies in a large Arabian form with broader lvs., taller infl., and fls. shading into orange, var. officinalis, Baker (A. officinalis, Forsk., A. rubescens, DC.); a smaller Asiatic form with red-tinged fls., var. chinensis (A. indica, Royle. A. chinensis, Baker); and a hardier garden form of this, var. Lanzae, Berger (A. Lanzae, Tod.). CH


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

Aloe vera can be grown as an ornamental plant.

Aloe vera has been widely grown as an ornamental plant. The species is popular with modern gardeners as a putatively medicinal plant and due to 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.[1] The species is hardy in zones 8–11, although it is intolerant of very heavy frost or snow.[2][4]

In pots, the species requires well-drained sandy potting soil and bright sunny conditions. The use of a good quality commercial propagation mix or pre-packaged "cacti and succulent mix" is recommended as they allow good drainage.[5] Terracotta pots are preferable as they are porous.[5] Potted plants should be allowed to completely dry prior to re-watering. During winter, A. vera may become dormant, during which little moisture is required. In areas that receive frost or snow the species is best kept indoors or in heated glasshouses.[2]

Propagation

Do you have propagation info on this plant? Edit this section!

Pests and diseases

The species is relatively resistant to most insect pests, though mealy bugs, scale insects and aphid species may cause a decline in plant health.[6][7]

Species

Gallery

  • Some varieties of Aloe vera have no spots.

  • Aloe vera growing on a roadside in Aruba

  • Aloe vera fields

  • Another Aloe vera plant

  • Flowers

  • Flowers

  • Flowers

  • Leaf close up

References

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Yates A. (2002) Yates Garden Guide. Harper Collins Australia
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Random House Australia Botanica's Pocket Gardening Encyclopedia for Australian Gardeners Random House Publishers, Australia
  3. ↑ Gong M, Wang F, Chen Y (January 2002). "[Study on application of arbuscular-mycorrhizas in growing seedings of Aloe vera]" (in Chinese). Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials 25 (1): 1–3. PMID 12583231. 
  4. ↑ "BBC Gardening, Aloe vera". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Coleby-Williams, J. "Fact Sheet: Aloes". Gardening Australia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-07-08.
  6. ↑ "Pest Alert: Aloe vera aphid Aloephagus myersi Essi.". Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
  7. ↑ "Kemper Center for Home Gardening: Aloe vera". Missouri Botanic Gardens, USA. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
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