341
leaves, latex and gel have been used commercially in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. This review article summarizes the phytochemistry, pharmacotherapy and toxicological profile of the Aloe genus plants.
18.2 Botany
Aloe genus (see classification below) is a succulent, monoecious, perennial species
with shallow roots. Aloe species are widely spread throughout the warmer regions
mainly in arid areas like Africa, India, etc. Although they can also be grown in subtropical winter rainfall and summer rainfall regions. There are some key factors
which limit the genus distribution such as temperature, rainfall, fire tolerance and
soil moisture. A wide diversity of habitats is occupied by Aloe species ranging from
altitudes of 2700 m to sea level. Some Aloe species are particularly restricted to
some geographical area although distribution of Aloe species is effected by specificity and seed pollinator morphology (Jordan 1996). In a broad range of soils Aloe
species can be cultivated and mainly loamy mixture is preferred with temperature
and pH ranging from 4 to 21 °C and 7.0 to 8.6. Conversely, some cold tolerant species can grow below 4 °C. Generally, grass Aloe species like Aloe plicatilis, Aloe
commixta and Aloe haemanthifolia desires to grow in acidic soils (Giddy 1973).
Most of the Aloe species under optimal environmental conditions can reach heights
of up to 61–99 cm and flowering period is between the months of May to June.
Entire Aloe species are evergreen with majority of species are with separate rosettes
of fleshy, sword-shaped and thick leaves terminating at the trunk or branches in case
of branched species. In individual species the leaves differ in colour, size and prickles distributed on the faces and margins of leaves. Usually flowers are of different
shades (red, orange or yellow) with narrow to tubular shaped usually clustered at the
apex of long stemmed spikes. Subsequently, up to 5 cm long oval fruits are formed
after fertilization. The most commonly used part of Aloe plants is leaf which can be
divide into three major parts as shown in Fig. 18.1. Outer green rind consisting of
structural components containing glycosides and anthraquinones (Reynolds 2004),
below the rind is outer pulp region with sap or latex and vascular bundles. Principally
most phenolic compounds (Flavonoids, anthraquinones, anthrones, preanthraquinones, pyrones, chromones and coumarins) are present in the latex region (Gutterman
and Chauser-Volfson 2000).
Kingdom:
Plantae- Plants
Subkingdom:
Tracheobionta- Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta- Seed plants
Division:
Magnoliophyta- Flowering plants
Class:
Liliopsida- Monocotyledons,
Subclass:
Liliidae
Order:
Liliales
Family:
Aloaceae (Aloe family)
Genus:
Aloe L.- Aloe
18 Aloe Species as Valuable Sources of Functional Bioactives
leaves, latex and gel have been used commercially in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. This review article summarizes the phytochemistry, pharmacotherapy and toxicological profile of the Aloe genus plants.
18.2 Botany
Aloe genus (see classification below) is a succulent, monoecious, perennial species
with shallow roots. Aloe species are widely spread throughout the warmer regions
mainly in arid areas like Africa, India, etc. Although they can also be grown in subtropical winter rainfall and summer rainfall regions. There are some key factors
which limit the genus distribution such as temperature, rainfall, fire tolerance and
soil moisture. A wide diversity of habitats is occupied by Aloe species ranging from
altitudes of 2700 m to sea level. Some Aloe species are particularly restricted to
some geographical area although distribution of Aloe species is effected by specificity and seed pollinator morphology (Jordan 1996). In a broad range of soils Aloe
species can be cultivated and mainly loamy mixture is preferred with temperature
and pH ranging from 4 to 21 °C and 7.0 to 8.6. Conversely, some cold tolerant species can grow below 4 °C. Generally, grass Aloe species like Aloe plicatilis, Aloe
commixta and Aloe haemanthifolia desires to grow in acidic soils (Giddy 1973).
Most of the Aloe species under optimal environmental conditions can reach heights
of up to 61–99 cm and flowering period is between the months of May to June.
Entire Aloe species are evergreen with majority of species are with separate rosettes
of fleshy, sword-shaped and thick leaves terminating at the trunk or branches in case
of branched species. In individual species the leaves differ in colour, size and prickles distributed on the faces and margins of leaves. Usually flowers are of different
shades (red, orange or yellow) with narrow to tubular shaped usually clustered at the
apex of long stemmed spikes. Subsequently, up to 5 cm long oval fruits are formed
after fertilization. The most commonly used part of Aloe plants is leaf which can be
divide into three major parts as shown in Fig. 18.1. Outer green rind consisting of
structural components containing glycosides and anthraquinones (Reynolds 2004),
below the rind is outer pulp region with sap or latex and vascular bundles. Principally
most phenolic compounds (Flavonoids, anthraquinones, anthrones, preanthraquinones, pyrones, chromones and coumarins) are present in the latex region (Gutterman
and Chauser-Volfson 2000).
Kingdom:
Plantae- Plants
Subkingdom:
Tracheobionta- Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta- Seed plants
Division:
Magnoliophyta- Flowering plants
Class:
Liliopsida- Monocotyledons,
Subclass:
Liliidae
Order:
Liliales
Family:
Aloaceae (Aloe family)
Genus:
Aloe L.- Aloe
18 Aloe Species as Valuable Sources of Functional Bioactives