Bitter aloe
Aloe ferox · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Sparse (69 studies) · ★★☆☆☆
Bitter aloe, scientifically known as Aloe ferox, is a powerful medicinal succulent native to South Africa. Renowned for its intense bitterness, the plant's sap is traditionally harvested for its potent laxative properties. Beyond digestion, it is widely utilized in herbal medicine for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapeutic benefits.
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Leaf · Leaves
- Common names
- Cape Aloe · Bitter Aloe
- Scientific synonyms
- Aloe Galpinii · Pachidendron Pseudoferox · 11 more
Names
Common Names
- Cape aloe
- bitter aloe
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Aloe ferox var subferox
- Aloe supralaevis var erythrocarpa
- Aloe ferox var. galpinii
- Aloe supralaevis var. erythrocarpa
- Aloe supralaevis
- Aloe ferox var incurva
- Aloe candelabrum
- Aloe perfoliata var ferox
- Aloe ferox var. subferox
- Busipho ferox
- Aloe perfoliata var. ferox
- Aloe ferox var. incurva
- Aloe pseudoferox
- Aloe galpinii
- Aloe pallancae
- Aloe subferox
French:
- Aloès du Cap
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Aloe feroxSynonyms
- Aloe galpinii
- Pachidendron pseudoferox
- Pachidendron supralaeve
- Aloe ferox var. galpinii
- Pachidendron ferox
- Aloe ferox var. incurvata
- Aloe perfoliata var. ferox
- Aloe pseudoferox
- Aloe subferox
- Aloe supralaevis
- Aloe supralaevis var. erythrocarpa
- Aloe horrida
- Aloe ferox var. subferox
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Asparagales and placed in the family Asphodelaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Aloe, specifically as the species Aloe ferox.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asparagales | WCVP |
| Family | Asphodelaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Aloe | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is widely recognized for its presence within the diverse landscapes of Southern Africa. Its primary distribution can be found throughout the various Cape Provinces. Additionally, the species is known to inhabit the mountainous regions of Lesotho. It also grows naturally across the expansive plains of the Free State. Consequently, these specific areas define the core geographical range of Aloe ferox.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Lesotho | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Free State | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Aloe ferox, is a succulent known for its medicinal potency, which is primarily concentrated in its large, fleshy leaves. While the whole-leaf can be processed for various applications, the bitter yellow sap found within the leaf is the most sought-after component for its purgative properties. Unlike some other species, the roots are not typically the primary focus of medicinal extraction, nor are the seeds commonly used in traditional remedies. Instead, the medicinal value is most effectively derived from the thick, juice-filled leaves that characterize the plant's structure.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaves | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | The Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bulbs | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gel | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf exudate | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| whole-leaf | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Aloe ferox has 29 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, aloin, 5-Hydroxyaloin A, 7-Hydroxyaloin, ALOINOSIDE B.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aloin | Planta medica (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Hydroxyaloin A | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 7-Hydroxyaloin | Talanta (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALOINOSIDE B | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Al | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aloeresin A | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aloeresin C | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aloesin | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aloinoside A | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Aloe ferox has 4 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Laxative.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Scientific reports (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Laxative | Medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Aloe ferox has 19 reported medicinal uses identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include wound healing, Diabetes mellitus, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, backache.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| wound healing | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Diabetes mellitus | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anaplasmosis | Tropical animal health and production (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| babesiosis | Tropical animal health and production (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| backache | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blood pressure | Medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| constipation | Human & experimental toxicology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ehrlichiosis | Tropical animal health and production (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glycemic control | Medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headache | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ethanol extracts | Journal of helminthology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol | Scientific reports (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| A. ferox gel | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| A. ferox whole-leaf | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cape Aloes | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acetone | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acetone leaf | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acetone leaf extract | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acetone root extract | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous leaf | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |