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Aloe vera
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Asphodelaceae Genus: Aloe Species: A. vera
Binomial name
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.

Aloe vera (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 leaves are lanceolate, thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with a serrated margin. The flowers are produced on a spike up to 90 cm tall, each flower pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2–3 cm long. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Aloe vera2. ... Scientific classification redirects here. ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ... Hemerocallis flower, with three flower parts in each whorl Wheat, an economically important monocot The monocotyledons or Monocots are a group of flowering plants, (angiosperms) dominating great parts of the earth. ... Families according to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group Agapanthus Agavaceae Alliaceae Amaryllidaceae Aphyllanthaceae Asparagaceae Asphodelaceae Asteliaceae Blandfordiaceae Boryaceae Doryanthaceae Hemerocallidaceae Hyacinthaceae Hypoxidaceae Iridaceae Ixioliriaceae Lanariaceae Laxmanniaceae Orchidaceae Ruscaceae Tecophilaeaceae Themidaceae Xanthorrhoea Xeronema Asparagales is an order of monocots which includes a number of families of non-woody plants. ... Genera Aloe Asphodeline Asphodelus Bulbine Bulbinella Eremurus Gasteria Haworthia Jodrellia Kniphofia Lomatophyllum Poellnitzia Trachyandra Asphodelaceae Juss. ... Species See Species For other uses, see Aloe (disambiguation). ... Latin name redirects here. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... In scientific classification, synonymy is the existence of multiple systematic names to label the same organism. ... Species See Species For other uses, see Aloe (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Succulent plants, or succulents, are plants that store water in their enlarged fleshy leaves, stems, or roots. ... See offset for reference to Computer terminology. ... Look up foliage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Lanceolate refers to a narrow oval shape that is pointed at both ends. ... 1 saw-like shape, consisting in a series of sharp peeks/teeth resembling triangles (the verteces, not the edges) Immagine a series of triangles layed on their edge and connected at that edges vertices, the remaning vertices (the non-connected ones) make-up the serration. ... The term margin has many meanings: In telecommunication, margin has the following meanings: In communications systems, the maximum degree of signal distortion that can be tolerated without affecting the restitution, without its being interpreted incorrectly by the decision circuit. ... For other uses, see Flower (disambiguation). ...

Cultivation

Flowers

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 such as the sun. It may not be consumed naturally. If planted in a 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^{[citation needed]}.

Aloe vera has a long history of cultivation throughout the drier tropical and subtropical regions of the world, both as an ornamental plant and for herbal medicine. For its herbal and medicinal uses, many of which are shared with related species, see Aloe.
A noontime scene from the Philippines on a day when the Sun is almost directly overhead. ... The subtropics are the zones of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropic zone, which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, at latitude 23. ... Petunia This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. ... Species See Species For other uses, see Aloe (disambiguation). ...

Food preservative

Researchers at the University of Miguel Hernández in Alicante, Spain, have developed a gel based on Aloe vera that prolongs the conservation of fresh produce, such as fresh fruit and legumes. 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 grapes 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 compounds, the action of micro-organisms that cause foodborne illnesses. Location Coordinates : Time zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer : CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Alacant (Catalan) Spanish name Alicante Postal code 03000 - 03016 Website www. ... In optical filters and theatrical lighting a color gel is a transparent or translucent colored panel used to change the color of transmitted light. ... This article is about the fruit of the plants also called legumes. For the plants themselves, see Fabaceae . ... Sulfur dioxide (or Sulphur dioxide) has the chemical formula SO2. ... This article is about the fruits of the genus Vitis. ... This article is about the chemical element and its most stable form, or dioxygen. ... Staphylococcus aureus - Antibiotics test plate. ... An antifungal drug is medication used to treat fungal infections such as athletes foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as cryptococcal meningitis, and others. ...

Medicinal uses

Aloe succotrina, from Koehler's Medicinal-Plants (1887)

Aloe vera has been used 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 Aloe 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). Image File history File links Koeh-007. ... Image File history File links Koeh-007. ... For the beetle, see Exema. ... An abscess on the skin, showing the redness and swelling characteristic of inflammation. ...

Aloe vera's beneficial properties may be attributed to 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. Chondroitin sulfate Hyaluronan Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) or mucopolysaccharides are long unbranched polysaccharides consisting of a repeating disaccharide unit. ... Fibrosarcoma (fibroblastic sarcoma) is a malignant tumor derived from fibrous connective tissue and characterized by immature proliferating fibroblasts or undifferentiated anaplastic spindle cells. ... Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ...

Cosmetic companies add sap or other derivatives from Aloe vera to products such as makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, shampoos and lotions, though the effectiveness of Aloe vera in these products remains unknown. Aloe vera gel is also alleged to be useful for dry skin conditions, especially eczema around the eyes and sensitive facial skin^{[citation needed]}. Most suppliers, however, degrade the polysaccharides during processing (Turner et al, 2004). For other uses, see Soap (disambiguation). ... Sunscreen (also known as sunblock, suntan lotion) is a lotion, spray or other topical product that is intended to protect the skin from the suns ultraviolet (UV) radiation. ... Shampoo is a common hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair. ... A lotion is a low- to medium-viscosity medicated or non-medicated topical preparation intended for application to unbroken skin. ... For the beetle, see Exema. ... Polysaccharides (sometimes called glycans) are relatively complex carbohydrates. ...

An article published in the British Journal of General Practice suggests that Aloe vera is effective at treating athlete's foot^{[citation needed]}. Athletes foot or Tinea pedis[1] is a parasitic fungal infection of the epidermis of the foot. ...

Whether or not it promotes wound healing is unknown, and even though there are some promising results, clinical effectiveness of oral or topical Aloe vera remains unclear at present.

Aloe vera juice may help some people with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease. Side effects can occur and consulting a doctor before ingesting any form of aloe vera, including aloe vera juice, is highly recommended.

Leaf close up

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 206 KB) Aloe vera leaf close up File links The following pages link to this file: Aloe ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 206 KB) Aloe vera leaf close up File links The following pages link to this file: Aloe ...

Parts that can be used

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 of the skin. Leaves and seeds are the two edible parts of Aloe Vera.^{[citation needed]}. Aloe vera latex—the yellow substance that comes from the inner side of the skin—can be highly irritating both externally and internally. Some people who have reported adverse effects from Aloe vera may be ingesting or applying this latex. Carefully removing all skin and any yellow substance before using Aloe may avoid such adverse effects. Gel used should be completely clear, odorless and tasteless.

Use in foods

In Japan Aloe Vera is commonly used as an ingredient in commercially available yogurt. There are also many companies which produce Aloe Vera beverages.^[1] Yoghurt Yoghurt or yogurt, less commonly yoghourt or yogourt, is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. ...

In some of the parts of early India (British India), now 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.^{[citation needed]} A carminative, also known as carminativum ( plural: carminativa), is a medicinal drug with antispasmodic activity that is used against cramps of the digestive tract in combination with flatulence. ...

Pashtuns in the 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.^{[citation needed]} The Pashtuns (also Pushtun, Pakhtun, or ethnic Afghan; in referring to the period of the British Raj or earlier, sometimes Pathan) are an ethnic/religious group of people, living primarily in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India who follow Pashtunwali, their indigenous religion. ... The Hazara region is located in NWFP, Pakistan. ... North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) is geographically the smallest of the four provinces of Pakistan. ...

People in Rajasthan, India prepare Aloe Vera as a vegetable with fenugreek seeds.^{[citation needed]} , Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... Binomial name L. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) or menthya (Kannada)or Venthayam (Tamil) belongs to the family Fabaceae. ...

People in Tamil Nadu another state of India prepare a curry using Aloe Vera which is taken along with Indian bread or rice.^{[citation needed]} Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ...

Some popular beverages, such as SoBe's Strawberry Daiquirí, contain Aloe Vera. In Mexico smoothies made out of Aloe Vera are fairly common.^{[citation needed]} This article is about a brand of drink. ... Image:Tropicalsmoothie. ...

In South Korea Aloe Vera is an ingredient in a popular soft drink, manufactured by the Hosan Corporation, called Aloe Drink Aloe Vera Drinks..

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Aloe vera

• Aloe vera side effects - rare and mild.
• The effect of Acemannan Immunostimulant in combination with surgery and radiation therapy on spontaneous canine and feline fibrosarcomas
• Decreased mortality of Norman murine sarcoma in mice treated with the immunomodulator, Acemannan.
• Induction of Apoptosis in a Macrophage Cell Line RAW 264.7 By Acemannan, a -(1,4)-Acetylated Mannan
• 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 also.
• Plants for a Future: Aloe vera
• Flora Europaea: Aloe vera (lists only as an introduced plant, contrary to statements of European origin in some other sources)
• Flora of China: Aloe vera
• Turner, CT, Williamson, DA, Stroud, PA, Talley, DJ. (2004). Evaluation and comparison of commercially available Aloe vera L. products using size exclusion chromatography with refractive index and multi-angle laster light scattering detection. International Immunopharmacology 4: 1727–1737.

External links

• Aloe Vera at a Glance This fact sheet from the U.S. National Institutes of Health provides basic information about aloe vera--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.
• The International Aloe Science Council
• Barbados Aloe at wikiPlants