Each aloe vera leaf has three main layers. There is an inner gel containing 99% water, and the remaining part made of amino acids, glucomannans, sterols, lipids, and vitamins. The middle layer is made of latex, which is a yellow sap containing glycosides and anthraquinones.
What are the health benefits of aloe vera?
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What are the benefits of eating raw aloe vera?
- The transparent gels of Aloe Vera is widely used in the preparation of desserts; due to is gel its is commonly used a gelatin and many more.
- Cut a square-shaped part of Aloe Vera; peel its green layer so that you can see the cube shape gel. ...
- Want to detoxify your body; on a regular basis sip a glass of Aloe Vera juice.
What does aloe vera do for you internally?
How to use aloe
- Heals burns. Due to its soothing, moisturizing, and cooling properties, aloe vera is often used to treat burns. ...
- Improves digestive health. Consuming aloe vera may benefit your digestive tract and help to soothe and cure stomach ailments, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Promotes oral health. ...
- Clears acne. ...
- Relieves anal fissures. ...
What is the nutritional value of aloe vera?
One eight-ounce serving of pure aloe vera juice includes:
- Calories: 8
- Protein: Less than 1 gram
- Fat: Less than 1 gram
- Carbohydrates: 3 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Sugar: Less than 1 gram
See more
What ingredients are in aloe vera?
Active components with its properties: Aloe vera contains 75 potentially active constituents: vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids and amino acids. Vitamins: It contains vitamins A (beta-carotene), C and E, which are antioxidants. It also contains vitamin B12, folic acid, and choline.
What is aloe derived from?
Aloe is a genus that contains more than 500 species of flowering succulent plants. Many Aloes occur naturally in North Africa. The leaves of Aloe vera are succulent, erect, and form a dense rosette. Many uses are made of the gel obtained from the plant's leaves.
Is aloe vera toxic?
Ingestion may cause minor symptoms such as rash, vomiting or diarrhea. Ingestion in large amounts can cause serious effects. These plants are known to cause problems in animals.
Is aloe vera a natural plant?
What is aloe vera? Aloe vera is a medicinal plant that's been used to treat various health conditions for thousands of years. It's usually safe to use also vera directly from the plant or you can buy it in gel form. Aloe vera creams, gels, and ointments contain the clear gel found in aloe veraleaves.
What part of aloe vera is toxic?
The latex is a thin layer of yellow liquid between the skin and the gel of the leaf. It contains compounds with powerful laxative properties, such as aloin ( 2 ). Eating too much latex can have serious and potentially fatal side effects ( 3 ).
Is all aloe medicinal?
There are more than 300 varieties of aloes. However, not all of them have the properties and benefits that are known when talking about Aloe Vera. Only three or four species of this plant contain the well known and widespread medicinal and healing properties.
Is aloe vera cancerous?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified aloe vera whole leaf extract as Class 2B. That means it is a possible cancer-causing substance (carcinogenic) for humans.
Can aloe cause hair loss?
Vitamin B12 and folic acid are also contained in aloe vera gel. Both of these components can keep your hair from falling out. However, there are no studies that confirm conclusively that aloe vera has any benefit in preventing hair loss. Aloe vera is a popular product that people use on their skin after sun exposure.
Is the yellow liquid in aloe vera poisonous?
This yellow secretion is called aloin (aka aloe latex) and is stored in the aloe leaf pulp. Aloin is toxic and should not be ingested as it is a potent laxative. Try to avoid contact altogether, but if you do touch it, wash the area with warm water and soap to avoid any potential skin irritation.
Can I use aloe vera gel on my private parts?
Aloe vera gel Nearly anything related to the skin can be dealt with using aloe vera gel. Try getting access to freshly extracted gel from aloe vera leaf. Add 1 cup water and use it as your natural vaginal wash. Aloe vera gel vaginal wash can help in case of vaginal dryness as well.
Is aloe vera a cactus?
Aloe vera may resemble a cactus, but taxonomically it's actually a member of the Asphodelaceae family, not the cactus family. While its botanical name is A. vera, various synonyms abound for this evergreen perennial: A. barbadensis, A.
What happens if we apply aloe vera on face overnight?
Aloe vera has allicin and antioxidants that penetrate deep into the skin layer and replenish the skin of its lost moisture, improves the collagen count and thereby prevents wrinkles. So, applying it on face overnight will revive, repair and replenish your skin, giving it a dewy glow with a brighter complexion.
What are the phytochemicals in aloe vera?
Aloe vera leaves contain phytochemicals under study for possible bioactivity, such as acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C- glycosides, anthrones, and other anthraquinones, such as emodin and various lectins.
Where does the name Aloe Vera come from?
The botanical name derives from Latin, aloe (also from Greek), having uncertain origin, and vera ("truth") from Latin. Common names use aloe with a region of its distribution, such as Chinese aloe, Cape aloe or Barbados aloe.
What is the purpose of aloe vera gel?
Aloe gel typically is used to make topical medications for skin conditions, such as burns, wounds, frostbite, rashes, psoriasis, cold sores, or dry skin.
How tall does an aloe plant grow?
Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed plant growing to 60–100 centimetres (24–39 inches) tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on their upper and lower stem surfaces. 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 (35 in) tall, each flower being pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2–3 cm ( 3⁄4 – 1#N#+#N#1⁄4 in) long. Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.
When was Aloe vera first described?
The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Aloe perfoliata var. vera, and was described again in 1768 by Nicolaas Laurens Burman as Aloe vera in Flora Indica on 6 April and by Philip Miller as Aloe barbadensis some ten days after Burman in the Gardener's Dictionary.
Where are aloe veras native to?
With the exception of the South African species A. striata, these Aloe species are native to Socotra ( Yemen), Somalia, and Sudan. The lack of obvious natural populations of the species has led some authors to suggest Aloe vera may be of hybrid origin.
Is aloe vera good for burns?
There is conflicting evidence regarding whether Aloe vera is effective as a treatment for wounds or burns. There is some evidence that topical use of aloe products might relieve symptoms of certain skin disorders, such as psoriasis, acne, or rashes.
What is aloe used for?
People primarily use aloe's clear gel topically in creams and ointments to treat burns, the skin condition psoriasis and even acne. Some also take the gel orally to treat certain conditions.
Can you take aloe in combination with diuretics?
Water pills (diuretics). Oral use of aloe latex, a laxative, in combination with use of diuretics might decrease potassium levels too much. Potassium supplementation might be needed. Nov. 18, 2020.
Can aloe gel be used with diabetes?
Diabetes drugs. Oral use of aloe gel, when taken in combination with diabetes drugs, might increase the risk of a condition characterized by an abnormally low level of blood sugar (hy pogly cemia). Oral drugs. Oral use of aloe latex can decrease your body's absorption of other drugs. This might reduce their effectiveness.
Can aloe vera cause cancer?
Aloe latex might also have the potential to cause cancer. Other side effects include abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Oral use of aloe latex and whole-leaf extract isn't recommended for children younger than age 12.
Is aloe gel safe?
Aloe gel is generally safe and can be effective in treating skin conditions such as burns and psoriasis. However, avoid using aloe latex orally. Unprocessed aloe latex contains chemicals that appear to have the potential to cause cancer, and processed aloe latex might have cancer-causing compounds.
Can you take aloe gel orally?
Some also take the gel orally to treat certain conditions. Aloe latex, a laxative, has been taken orally to treat constipation. While aloe gel is generally safe when used as recommended, oral use of aloe latex poses safety concerns. In fact, taking 1 gram a day of aloe latex for several days can cause kidney damage and might be fatal.
Is it safe to take aloe orally?
It might be safe when appropriate doses are taken orally for a short time. Aloe latex or whole-leaf extract taken orally might be unsafe and is likely unsafe in high doses. Taking 1 gram a day of aloe latex for several days can cause acute kidney failure and can be fatal.
What are the leaves of Aloe vera?
The leaves of Aloe vera are succulent, erect, and form a dense rosette. Many uses are made of the gel obtained from the plant’s leaves. Aloe vera has been the subject of much scientific study over the last few years, regarding several claimed therapeutic properties. In this article, we will look at some of these claims and investigate ...
Where does Aloe vera grow?
Aloe is a genus that contains more than 500 species of flowering succulent plants. Many Aloes occur naturally in North Africa. The leaves of Aloe vera are succulent, erect, and form a dense rosette. Many uses are made of the gel obtained from the plant’s leaves.
How much Aloe vera should I take for constipation?
Germany’s regulatory agency for herbs – Commission E – approved the use of Aloe vera for the treatment of constipation. Dosages of 50-200 milligrams of Aloe latex are commonly taken in liquid or capsule form once daily for up to 10 days.
Is aloe laxative regulated by the FDA?
Trusted Source. ) in the U.S., part of the National Institutes of Health, Aloe latex contains strong laxative compounds. Products containing aloin, aloe-emodin, and barbaloin (components of Aloe) were once regulated by the FDA as oral OTC laxatives.
Is aloe vera good for lotion?
Aloe vera gel has many medicinal properties and is often used in creams and lotions. According to Kew Gardens, England’s royal botanical center of excellence, Aloe vera has been used for centuries and is currently more popular than ever.
Does aloe help with depression?
A study published in Nutritional Neuroscience found that Aloe vera reduced depression. Trusted Source. and improved memory in mice. After carrying out experiments on laboratory mice, they concluded: “ Aloe vera enhances learning and memory, and also alleviates depression in mice.”.
Does aloe shoot extract help with photoaging?
Scientists at Kyung Hee University Global Campus, South Korea, wanted to determine whether baby Aloe shoot extract and adult Aloe shoot extract might have a protective effect on UVB-induced skin photoaging; in other words, whether they could protect the skin from the aging effects of sunlight.
What are the leaves of an aloe plant?
Most Aloe species have a rosette of large, thick, fleshy leaves . Aloe flowers are tubular, frequently yellow, orange, pink, or red, and are borne, densely clustered and pendant, at the apex of simple or branched, leafless stems. Many species of Aloe appear to be stemless, with the rosette growing directly at ground level; other varieties may have a branched or unbranched stem from which the fleshy leaves spring. They vary in color from grey to bright-green and are sometimes striped or mottled. Some aloes native to South Africa are tree-like (arborescent).
What family is American aloe?
The plant Agave americana, which is sometimes called "American aloe", belongs to the Asparagaceae, a different family.
How many genera are there in Aloe vera?
In 2014, John Charles Manning and coworkers produced a phylogeny in which Aloe was divided into six genera: Aloidendron, Kumara, Aloiampelos, Aloe, Aristaloe and Gonialoe.
Why is aloe vera called "true aloe"?
The most widely known species is Aloe vera, or "true aloe". It is called this because it is cultivated as the standard source for assorted pharmaceutical purposes. Other species, such as Aloe ferox, are also cultivated or harvested from the wild for similar applications.
What are the two types of aloins?
According to W. A. Shenstone, two classes of aloins are recognized: (1) nataloins, which yield picric and oxa lic acids with nitric acid, and do not give a red coloration with nitric acid; and (2) barbaloins, which yield aloetic acid (C 7 H 2 N 3 O 5 ), chrysammic acid (C 7 H 2 N 2 O 6 ), picric and oxalic acids with nitric acid, being reddened by the acid. This second group may be divided into a-barbaloins, obtained from Barbados Aloe, and reddened in the cold, and b-barbaloins, obtained from Aloe Socotrina and Zanzibar Aloe, reddened by ordinary nitric acid only when warmed or by fuming acid in the cold. Nataloin (2C 17 H 13 O 7 ·H 2 O) forms bright-yellow scales, barbaloin (C 17 H 18 O 7) prismatic crystals. Aloe species are used in essential oils as a safety measure to dilute the solution before they are applied to the skin.
Is aloe vera used in herbal medicine?
Documentation of the clinical effectiveness is available, although relatively limited. Of the 500+ species, only a few were used traditionally as herbal medicines, Aloe vera again being the most commonly used species. Also included are A. perryi and A. ferox.
Is aloe vera a medicinal plant?
Aloe vera is used both internally and externally on humans as folk or alternative medicine. The Aloe species is known for its medicinal and cosmetic properties. Around 75% of Aloe species are used locally for medicinal uses. The plants can also be made into types of special soaps or used in other skin care products (see natural skin care ).
How does an aloe plant hold its leaves upright?
Since the aloe vera plant's leaves have no woody parts or stalks, they are held upright simply by the gel's water pressure. When an aloe plant is cut or otherwise damaged, the plant's gel reacts to seal and heal the wound.
Why do people use aloe vera gel?
Aloe vera gel can be applied topically to protect the skin from the effects of smoke, exhaust fumes and the sun's rays.
Can aloe vera be used on pets?
Aloe vera gel can also be used to heal damaged skin on pets and neutralize some pet odors. Not only does the gel from an aloe vera plant offer healing properties for humans, it offers healing properties for the plant itself. Since the aloe vera plant's leaves have no woody parts or stalks, they are held upright simply by the gel's water pressure. ...
Does aloe help with shingles?
Many people find relief from shingles, eczema, and psoriasis after the application of aloe gel to affected areas . The natural anti-bacterial properties of this gel make it an ideal oral hygiene product for use on the tongue, teeth, cheeks, and tongue.
Does aloe vera gel help with scarring?
The pure gel from an aloe vera plant leaf can regenerate skin cells, allowing skin to heal with minimal scarring. Stimulating skin cells gives the skin a healthy glow and keeps the skin fresh. Pure aloe vera gel may be used as an alternative to personal lubricant.
Is aloe vera gel toxic?
Aloe vera gel is a natural, non-toxic substance. The gel within an aloe vera plant is made up of many components including a variety of enzymes, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and proteins. This gel is a natural scar inhibitor, cell growth stimulator, pain inhibitor, coagulating agent, and antibiotic. The gel from an aloe vera plant can be used ...
Is aloe vera good for eczema?
The antibacterial aspects of aloe vera gel make it an excellent oral hygiene product. The application of aloe vera gel can provide some relief from eczema. Aloe is commonly used as a skin-soothing agent.
What are the benefits of aloe vera?
What Have We Learned? 1 Clinical research suggests that topical application of an aloe-based gel twice daily (along with medical soap and tretinoin gel) may improve acne. 2 Clinical research suggests topical application of aloe gel may speed burn healing. There also is evidence that treatment with aloe vera may reduce pain from burns. 3 Research suggests topical use of aloe also may help people with herpes simplex, lichen planus, or psoriasis. 4 Three trials (with a total of 236 adult participants) have evaluated the use of oral doses of aloe vera for symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Results from one trial showed a benefit; the other two trials showed no benefit of aloe vera over placebo. 5 In a small European study, 44 adults with ulcerative colitis were randomly assigned to receive aloe vera gel or a placebo twice daily for a month. Almost half of the people treated with aloe vera responded to the treatment whereas 14 percent of those treated with placebo responded. 6 Aloe vera has been studied in clinical (human) trials for diabetic foot ulcers and dental plaque, but there’s not enough scientific evidence to show whether aloe vera is helpful for these conditions. A 2009 review article examined data from a mix of laboratory, animal, and clinical trials and concluded that more research is necessary to explore aloe’s clinical effectiveness for a number of different skin conditions.
Why is aloe removed from over the counter laxatives?
Food and Drug Administration issued a ruling that required manufacturers to remove aloe from over-the-counter laxative products because of a lack of safety data.
Is aloe gel safe for pregnancy?
Overuse of aloe latex may increase the risk of adverse effects from the drug digoxin, used for some heart problems. Aloe—both in gel and latex form—when taken by mouth may be unsafe during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Is aloe vera good for skin?
Aloe is used topically (applied to the skin) and orally. Topical use of aloe is promoted for acne, lichen planus (a very itchy rash on the skin or in the mouth), oral submucous fibrosis, burning mouth syndrome, burns, and radiation-induced skin toxicity. Oral use of aloe is promoted for weight loss, diabetes, hepatitis, ...
Does aloe help with psoriasis?
Research suggests topical use of aloe also may help people with herpes simplex, lichen planus, or psoriasis. Three trials (with a total of 236 adult participants) have evaluated the use of oral doses of aloe vera for symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Results from one trial showed a benefit; the other two trials showed no benefit ...
Can aloe cause cramps?
Oral use of aloe latex can cause abdominal pain and cramps. Oral consumption of aloe leaf extracts (for as little as 3 weeks and as long as 5 years) has been related to cases of acute hepatitis.
Does aloe vera help with ulcers?
Aloe vera has been studied in clinical (human) trials for diabetic foot ulcers and dental plaque, but there’ s not enough scientific evidence to show whether aloe vera is helpful for these conditions.
What is the gel in aloe vera?
This water filled tissue is the “gel” that people associate with aloe vera products. The gel contains most of the beneficial bioactive compounds in the plant, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. 2. It has antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Antioxidants are important for health.
How big does an aloe vera leaf get?
Aloe vera is known for its thick, pointed, and fleshy green leaves, which may grow to about 12–19 inches (30–50 centimeters) in length. Each leaf contains a slimy tissue that stores water, and this makes the leaves thick. This water filled tissue is the “gel” that people associate with aloe vera products.
How long does it take for aloe vera to heal?
For example, a review. Trusted Source. of experimental studies found that aloe vera could reduce the healing time of burns by around 9 days compared with conventional medication.
How much does aloe vera cost?
The cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries use aloe vera extensively, and the plant has an estimated annual market value of $13 billion. Trusted Source. globally. Aloe vera is known for its thick, pointed, and fleshy green leaves, which may grow to about 12–19 inches (30–50 centimeters) in length.
Is aloe vera safe to take?
Risks. Aloe vera is a safe remedy with few known side effects. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) say that topical use is likely safe. That said, the oral use of aloe vera may cause stomach cramps or diarrhea due to its laxative effects.
Does aloe help with constipation?
Aloe vera may also help treat constipation. This time it is the latex, not the gel, that provides the benefits. The latex is a sticky yellow residue present just under the skin of the leaf. The key compound responsible for this effect is called aloin, or barbaloin, which has well-established.
Is aloe vera juice as effective as chlorhexidine?
of 300 healthy people, researchers compared 100% pure aloe vera juice with the standard mouthwash ingredient chlorhexidine. After 4 days of use, the aloe vera mouth rinse appeared to be just as effective as chlorhexidine in reducing dental plaque. Another study.
How is aloe vera water made?
Aloe vera water is made by processing and homogenizing the leaf, and then mixing it with water to make it palatable. [1] Many people assume that aloe vera juice and aloe vera water are the same things, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Different companies may market the same product under either name. Generally speaking, aloe vera juice is the ...
Where does aloe water come from?
Aloe water is a nutrient-dense drink derived from the Aloe Vera plant, which is actually both the scientific and common name! Aloe vera is a succulent plant whose flesh is fibrous and gelatinous, and it can be found in many areas of the world, including North Africa and the Middle East as per a study published by Bhushan Bidya, ...
What is aloe vera juice?
Generally speaking, aloe vera juice is the pure, jelly-like extract from aloe vera plants. This nutrient-dense water is made by diluting aloe vera juice with pure water and/or other flavorings. In terms of the flavor of aloe water, i t is bitter and slightly citrusy.
Does aloe water have sugar?
The primary thing to look out for when buying this specialty water is the added sugar. Flavor-enhanced aloe water could contain refined sugar or natural fructose that may negate many of the potential health benefits outlined above.
Does aloe help with sunburn?
Aloe vera is well known for how it can help to soothe painful sunburns, but it also has a host of properties that make it just as beneficial for your insides as your outsides! [3]
How to make an aloe plant grow?
2. Slice off an outer leaf of an aloe plant. The outer leaves are more likely to be mature. They'll contain plenty of fresh, healthy gel. Look for leaves around the outside of the plant, with bases growing close to the ground. Use a sharp knife to make a clean cut near the base.
How to use aloe vera gel on face?
Always do a skin test first to be sure you don’t have an allergy to the gel. Apply a small blob of gel to your fingertip, then gently massage into your facial skin, using small circular movements.
How long can you keep aloe vera gel?
wikiHow Staff Editor. Staff Answer. Aloe vera gel can be kept for about a week at average room temperature. If the room gets too hot, the gel should be moved to a cooler place for storage, such as a basement or cellar. Smell the gel if kept without refrigeration; it it smells bad, do not use it.
Does Aloe vera remove dandruff?
wikiHow Staff Editor. Staff Answer. Aloe vera gel can be used to remove dandruff; it has moisturizing, anti-fungal, cleansing and anti-inflammatory properties that all help to reduce or remove dandruff. Adding moisture to the scalp can ease dandruff.
Can aloe vera be used on skin?
Aloe vera gel should primarily be used on surface skin irritation, minor burns, insect bites, and minor wounds. Exercise caution with deep wounds and scars, like those created by surgery, since some studies suggest that aloe gel can worsen scars like these.
Can you use aloe vera as a moisturizer?
Aloe can also be used as a skin moisturizer or an ingredient in homemade body products. [7] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source. Aloe vera gel should primarily be used on surface skin irritation, minor burns, insect bites, and minor wounds.
Does aloe help with hyperpigmentation?
Aloe vera may help to lighten small areas of hyperpigmentation , where your skin color has changed slightly. Aloin, an ingredient found in aloe vera, has been shown in several scientific studies to have depigmentation effects (e.g. Smit, Vicanova and Pavel, 2009; Ali, Galgut and Choudhary, 2012).
Overview
Aloe vera is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. Having some 500 species, Aloe is widely distributed, and is considered an invasive species in many world regions.
An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world. It is cultivated fo…
Etymology and common names
The botanical name derives from Latin, aloe (also from Greek), having uncertain origin, and vera ("true") from Latin. Common names use aloe with a region of its distribution, such as Chinese aloe, Cape aloe or Barbados aloe.
Description
Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed plant growing to 60–100 centimetres (24–39 inches) tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on their upper and lower stem surfaces. 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 (35 in) tall, each flower being pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄4 in) lon…
Taxonomy
The species has several synonyms: A. barbadensis Mill., Aloe indica Royle, Aloe perfoliata L. var. vera and A. vulgaris Lam. Some literature identifies the white-spotted form of Aloe vera as Aloe vera var. chinensis; and the spotted form of Aloe vera may be conspecific with A. massawana. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Aloe perfoliata var. vera, and was descri…
Distribution
A. vera is considered to be native only to the south-east Arabian Peninsula in the Al Hajar Mountains in north-eastern Oman. However, it has been widely cultivated around the world, and has become naturalized in North Africa, as well as Sudan and neighboring countries, along with the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, and Madeira Islands. It has also naturalized in the Algarve region of Portugal, and in wild areas across southern Spain, especially in the region of Murcia.
Cultivation
Aloe vera has been widely grown as an ornamental plant. The species is popular with modern gardeners as a topical medicinal plant and for 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. The species is hardy in zones 8–11, and is intolerant of heavy fro…
Uses
Two substances from Aloe vera – a clear gel and its yellow latex – are used to manufacture commercial products. Aloe gel typically is used to make topical medications for skin conditions, such as burns, wounds, frostbite, rashes, psoriasis, cold sores, or dry skin. Aloe latex is used individually or manufactured as a product with other ingredients to be ingested for relief of constipation. Aloe latex may be obtained in a dried form called resin or as "aloe dried juice".
Toxicity
Orally ingested non-decolorized aloe vera leaf extract was listed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment among "chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity".
Use of topical aloe vera is not associated with significant side effects. Oral ingestion of aloe vera is potentially toxic, and may cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea which in turn can decrease th…
Overview
- Aloe, a plant, produces two substances used in health care products — clear gel and yellow latex. People primarily use aloe's clear gel topically in creams and ointments to treat burns, the skin condition psoriasis and even acne. Some also take the gel orally to treat certain conditions. Aloe latex, a laxative, has been taken orally to treat consti...
Description
Systematics
Uses
Heraldic occurrence
See also
Aloe is a genus containing over 560 species of flowering succulent plants. The most widely known species is Aloe vera, or "true aloe". It is called this because it is cultivated as the standard source for assorted pharmaceutical purposes. Other species, such as Aloe ferox, are also cultivated or harvested from the wild for similar applications.
Further reading
Most Aloe species have a rosette of large, thick, fleshy leaves. Aloe flowers are tubular, frequently yellow, orange, pink, or red, and are borne, densely clustered and pendant, at the apex of simple or branched, leafless stems. Many species of Aloe appear to be stemless, with the rosette growing directly at ground level; other varieties may have a branched or unbranched stem from which the fleshy leaves spring. They vary in color from grey to bright-green and are sometimes striped or m…
External links
The APG IV system (2016) places the genus in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae. In the past it has also been assigned to the families Liliaceae and Aloeaceae, as well as the family Asphodelaceae sensu stricto, before this was merged into the Asphodelaceae sensu lato.
The circumscription of the genus has varied widely. Many genera, such as Lom…