Aloe vera

Aloe vera is a widespread plant species of the genus "Aloe" from the grass family (Xanthorrhoeaceae).
The plant usually grows stemless, forming 10-16 elongated, rosette-like, fleshy, gray-green, smooth 4-7 cm wide, serrated leaves that can reach a length of 40 to 50 cm. The flowers sit in racemes on a 60 to 90 cm long inflorescence.
Originally native to Sudan and the Arabian Peninsula, it is now found in all tropical and subtropical regions due to cultivation and naturalization. The species epithet barbadensis refers to its occurrence on the West Indian island of Barbados.aloe vera is cultivated in all subtropical and tropical regions of the world. Also in the Mediterranean region.

The extract is used phytotherapeutically, see under Aloe barbadensis.

The true aloe is the official parent plant of "aloe", a pharmaceutical drug (Aloe inspissatus; bear bile) obtained from the leaf juice by evaporation until it dries. The sap flows out spontaneously at the base of the plant after the leaves have been cut off. Basically, 2 starting substrates are obtained by different processing methods of the extract:

Aloe hepatica: Produced by slow, gentle evaporation as a matt brown, liver-colored solid, the so-called "Aloe hepatica type".

Aloe lucida: Produced by rapid evaporation as a deep brown, glassy appearing solid, the "Aloe lucida type".

Aloe has a strong bitter taste, is slightly soluble in cold water and very soluble in hot water.

The following are used as medicinal products:

• Aloebarbadensis is obtained from Aloe barbadensis Miller (Aloe vera L) and contains the strong laxative 1,8-dihydroxyanthracene derivative aloin as its main ingredient.
• Aloe capensis is extracted from Aloe ferox Miller species, Cape aloe.

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