Aloe vera
Family – Asphodelaceae
Scientific name – Aloe vera
COMMON NAMES:
1) In Marathi Korphad.
2) In hindi Gheekumari.
3) In Tamil Kathalai.
4) In Malayalam Kattar vazha.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
1) Aloe vera is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe.
2) An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates
around the world.
3) It is cultivated for agricultural and
medicinal uses.
4) The species is also used for decorative
purposes and grows successfully indoors as a potted plant.
5) It is found in many consumer products
including beverages, skin lotion, cosmetics, ointments or in the form of gel
for minor burns and sunburns.
6) There is little clinical
evidence for the effectiveness or safety
of Aloe vera extract as a cosmetic or medicine.
7) Aloe vera is a stemless or very
short-stemmed plant growing to 60–100 cm (24–39 in) tall, spreading
by offsets.
8) The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to
grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on their upper and lower
stem surfaces.
9) The margin of the leaf is serrated and has small white teeth.
10) 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 (0.8–1.2 in) long.
11) Like
other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular
mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in
soil.
12) 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.
GROWING AREAS:
1) A. vera is considered to be
native only to the south-east Arabian Peninsula in the Al-Hajar mountains in north-eastern Oman.
2) 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.
3) It has also naturalized in the Algarve region of Portugal, and in wild areas across southern Spain,
especially in the region of Murcia.
4) The species was introduced to China and
various parts of southern Europe in the 17th century.
5) It is widely naturalized elsewhere, occurring
in arid, temperate, and tropical regions of temperate continents.
6) The current distribution may be the
result of cultivation.
USES OF THE ALOE VERA
1) Two substances
from Aloe vera – a clear gel and its yellow latex – are used to manufacture commercial
products.
2) Aloe gel typically is
used to make topical medications for skin conditions, such as burns, wounds,
frostbite, rashes, psoriasis, cold sores, or dry skin.
3) Aloe latex is used
individually or manufactured as a product with other ingredients to be ingested
for relief of constipation.
4) Aloe latex may be
obtained in a dried form called resin or as "aloe dried
juice".
