Aloe vera
Aloe vera · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (380 studies) · ★★★★★
, scientifically known as Aloe vera, is a versatile succulent celebrated for its remarkable healing properties. Renowned for its soothing gel, this plant offers significant therapeutic benefits, ranging from skin hydration and burn relief to digestive support. Its widespread medicinal use makes it a cornerstone of natural wellness globally.
- Family
- Not available
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Leaf · Root
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Aloe veraDistribution
This plant exhibits a varied geographical presence across several regions of Europe. In Middle Europe, it can be found specifically in Austria. Its distribution extends into Southwestern Europe, where it grows in the Baleares, Portugal, and Spain. Additionally, the species is present in Southeastern Europe, specifically in Greece. Together, these locations highlight its ability to inhabit diverse European climates.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Greece | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Kriti | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Sicilia | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Aloe vera, is a succulent characterized by its unique anatomy. The most vital part used for medicinal purposes is the fleshy leaves, which grow in a rosette pattern. Each individual leaf is thick and contains a clear, soothing gel that is highly valued for its healing properties. Unlike many other plants, it has very minimal stems, as the leaves appear to grow directly from the base. To anchor the plant and absorb nutrients from the soil, it utilizes a system of shallow roots.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 11 sources) | ★★★★★ |
| root | Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Aloe vera has 53 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aloe emodin, Anthraquinones, Peroxidase, aloin, 1-((3-((4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-xylopyranosyloxymethyl)-1-hydroxy-8-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)naphthalene-2-y])-ethanone.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Aloe emodin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthraquinones | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Peroxidase | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aloin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1-((3-((4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-xylopyranosyloxymethyl)-1-hydroxy-8-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)naphthalene-2-y])-ethanone | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 10-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl aloenin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 8-C-Glucosyl-(R)-aloesol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 8-C-glucosyl-7-O-methyl-(S)-aloesol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ANTHRAQUINONE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Al | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Aloe emodin
- Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
- Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Anthraquinones
- Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
- Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
Peroxidase
- Planta medica
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
aloin
- Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
1-((3-((4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-xylopyranosyloxymethyl)-1-hydroxy-8-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)naphthalene-2-y])-ethanone
- Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
10-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl aloenin
- Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
8-C-Glucosyl-(R)-aloesol
- Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
8-C-glucosyl-7-O-methyl-(S)-aloesol
- Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
ANTHRAQUINONE
- Cells
Al
- Biological trace element research
Activities
Aloe vera has 10 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Antiinflammatory.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Drug design, development and therapy (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aphrodisiac | BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cosmetic | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Laxative | Drug design, development and therapy (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Aloe vera has 158 reported medicinal uses identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include wound healing, cancer, wounds, constipation, diabetes mellitus.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| wound healing | Journal of wound care (and other 26 sources) | ★★★★★ |
| cancer | Natural product communications (and other 10 sources) | ★★★★★ |
| wounds | Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (and other 8 sources) | ★★★★☆ |
| constipation | Digestion (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | Revista brasileira de farmacognosia : orgao oficial da Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| inflammation | Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| burns | Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| gingivitis | Iranian journal of basic medical sciences (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| malaria | BMC complementary medicine and therapies (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| psoriasis | Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| extracts | Ethiopian journal of health sciences (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| APS-1 | Life sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Air-dried powder | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aloe barbadensis polysaccharide | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ethanolic extract | Applied biochemistry and biotechnology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract | Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract of Aloe barbadensis | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extracts | Applied biochemistry and biotechnology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous leaf extracts | Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |