Aloe flexilifolia (PROTA) - Revision history

WikiSysop at 21:47, 27 October 2014

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	The distinctive constituents in ''Aloe'' are phenolic compounds, notably chromone, anthraquinone or anthrone derivatives. The exudate of ''Aloe flexilifolia'' is known to be caustic, and is rich in aloin. Aloin is the active ingredient and has purgative properties. Other compounds of interest for their medicinal activity in this and other ''Aloe'' species are the polysaccharides contained in the gel from the core of the leaves, and lectins found in several plant parts.		The distinctive constituents in ''Aloe'' are phenolic compounds, notably chromone, anthraquinone or anthrone derivatives. The exudate of ''Aloe flexilifolia'' is known to be caustic, and is rich in aloin. Aloin is the active ingredient and has purgative properties. Other compounds of interest for their medicinal activity in this and other ''Aloe'' species are the polysaccharides contained in the gel from the core of the leaves, and lectins found in several plant parts.

	== ~~Botany~~ ==		== Description ==

	Succulent perennial shrub; stem stout, erect and up to 1 m tall or slender, pendulous and up to 2 m long, much branched from the base forming large clumps. Leaves laxly crowded at top of branches, hanging down; stipules absent; petiole absent; blade narrowly lanceolate, up to 50 cm × 7 cm, apex long-acuminate, margin hard and tough, with pale brown sharp teeth 1–2 mm long, 1–2 cm apart, blade pale bluish green with a few white spots when young; exudate drying brown. Inflorescence consisting of erect, cylindrical racemes, 10–15(–30) cm × 8 cm, densely flowered; peduncle horizontal to down-curved, 50–65 cm long, with 6–8 branches, lowest branches occasionally rebranched; bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5–6 mm long. Flowers bisexual, regular, 3-merous; pedicel 12–18 mm long; perianth tubular, up to 3.5 cm long × c. 8 mm, lobes 6, 10–12 mm long, bright red or brownish red, sometimes yellow; stamens 6, exserted; ovary superior, 3-celled, style filiform, stigma head-shaped, exserted. Fruit unknown.		Succulent perennial shrub; stem stout, erect and up to 1 m tall or slender, pendulous and up to 2 m long, much branched from the base forming large clumps. Leaves laxly crowded at top of branches, hanging down; stipules absent; petiole absent; blade narrowly lanceolate, up to 50 cm × 7 cm, apex long-acuminate, margin hard and tough, with pale brown sharp teeth 1–2 mm long, 1–2 cm apart, blade pale bluish green with a few white spots when young; exudate drying brown. Inflorescence consisting of erect, cylindrical racemes, 10–15(–30) cm × 8 cm, densely flowered; peduncle horizontal to down-curved, 50–65 cm long, with 6–8 branches, lowest branches occasionally rebranched; bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5–6 mm long. Flowers bisexual, regular, 3-merous; pedicel 12–18 mm long; perianth tubular, up to 3.5 cm long × c. 8 mm, lobes 6, 10–12 mm long, bright red or brownish red, sometimes yellow; stamens 6, exserted; ovary superior, 3-celled, style filiform, stigma head-shaped, exserted. Fruit unknown.

	''Aloe'' comprises about 450 species in Africa and Arabia, of which c. 315 occur in mainland Africa, c. 100 are endemic to Madagascar or the Indian Ocean islands (including the former ''Lomatophyllum'') and c. 50 occur in Arabia. ''Aloe flexilifolia'' belongs to a group of species with decumbent, sprawling or pendulous stems. Several other East African species in this group have medicinal uses. The leaf sap of ''Aloe carolineae'' L.E.Newton is used in Kenya to cure eye disorders. ''Aloe pulcherrima'' M.G.Gilbert & Sebsebe, which is endemic to central Ethiopia, is used medicinally and has become scarce in the wild due to harvesting, but is increasingly cultivated in gardens. According to CITES, ''Aloe scabrifolia'' L.E.Newton & Lavranos from Kenya is threatened as a result of overexploitation for medicinal use and exudate extraction; the leaf exudate is brown and contains much aloin A. The So people of Uganda use the exudate of ''Aloe wilsonii'' Reynolds from north-western Kenya and north-eastern Uganda externally to cure eye infections, headache and body pains, while an infusion of the whole plant is taken as an emetic; pounded roots and leaves are applied to aching teeth. The leaf exudate is yellow and turns brownish when drying.		== Other botanical information ==

			''Aloe'' comprises about 450 species in Africa and Arabia, of which c. 315 occur in mainland Africa, c. 100 are endemic to Madagascar or the Indian Ocean islands (including the former ''Lomatophyllum'') and c. 50 occur in Arabia. ''Aloe flexilifolia'' belongs to a group of species with decumbent, sprawling or pendulous stems. Several other East African species in this group have medicinal uses.

			=== ''Aloe carolineae'' ===
			The leaf sap of ''[[Aloe carolineae]]'' L.E.Newton is used in Kenya to cure eye disorders.

			=== ''Aloe pulcherrima'' ===
			''[[Aloe pulcherrima]]'' M.G.Gilbert & Sebsebe, which is endemic to central Ethiopia, is used medicinally and has become scarce in the wild due to harvesting, but is increasingly cultivated in gardens.

			=== ''Aloe scabrifolia'' ===
			According to CITES, ''[[Aloe scabrifolia]]'' L.E.Newton & Lavranos from Kenya is threatened as a result of overexploitation for medicinal use and exudate extraction; the leaf exudate is brown and contains much aloin A.

			=== ''Aloe wilsonii'' ===
			The So people of Uganda use the exudate of ''[[Aloe wilsonii]]'' Reynolds from north-western Kenya and north-eastern Uganda externally to cure eye infections, headache and body pains, while an infusion of the whole plant is taken as an emetic; pounded roots and leaves are applied to aching teeth. The leaf exudate is yellow and turns brownish when drying.

	== Ecology ==		== Ecology ==
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	== Correct citation of this article ==		== Correct citation of this article ==

	Bosch, C.H., 2006. '''Aloe flexilifolia''' Christian. ~~[Internet] Record from PROTA4U.~~ Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. ~~<http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>.~~		Bosch, C.H., 2006. '''Aloe flexilifolia''' Christian. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.

	Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.

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2014-07-06T16:56:34Z

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	}}		}}


	<big>''[[Aloe flexilifolia]]'' Christian</big>		<big>''[[Aloe flexilifolia]]'' Christian</big>

	__NOTOC__		__NOTOC__


	{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Aloe flexilifolia'' (PROTA)}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Aloe flexilifolia'' (PROTA)}}

	:Protologue: Journ. S. African Bot. 8(2): 167 (1942).		:Protologue: Journ. S. African Bot. 8(2): 167 (1942).

	:Family: Asphodelaceae		:Family: Asphodelaceae

	~~== Synonyms ==~~



	~~== Vernacular names ==~~



	== Origin and geographic distribution ==		== Origin and geographic distribution ==
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	''Aloe'' comprises about 450 species in Africa and Arabia, of which c. 315 occur in mainland Africa, c. 100 are endemic to Madagascar or the Indian Ocean islands (including the former ''Lomatophyllum'') and c. 50 occur in Arabia. ''Aloe flexilifolia'' belongs to a group of species with decumbent, sprawling or pendulous stems. Several other East African species in this group have medicinal uses. The leaf sap of ''Aloe carolineae'' L.E.Newton is used in Kenya to cure eye disorders. ''Aloe pulcherrima'' M.G.Gilbert & Sebsebe, which is endemic to central Ethiopia, is used medicinally and has become scarce in the wild due to harvesting, but is increasingly cultivated in gardens. According to CITES, ''Aloe scabrifolia'' L.E.Newton & Lavranos from Kenya is threatened as a result of overexploitation for medicinal use and exudate extraction; the leaf exudate is brown and contains much aloin A. The So people of Uganda use the exudate of ''Aloe wilsonii'' Reynolds from north-western Kenya and north-eastern Uganda externally to cure eye infections, headache and body pains, while an infusion of the whole plant is taken as an emetic; pounded roots and leaves are applied to aching teeth. The leaf exudate is yellow and turns brownish when drying.		''Aloe'' comprises about 450 species in Africa and Arabia, of which c. 315 occur in mainland Africa, c. 100 are endemic to Madagascar or the Indian Ocean islands (including the former ''Lomatophyllum'') and c. 50 occur in Arabia. ''Aloe flexilifolia'' belongs to a group of species with decumbent, sprawling or pendulous stems. Several other East African species in this group have medicinal uses. The leaf sap of ''Aloe carolineae'' L.E.Newton is used in Kenya to cure eye disorders. ''Aloe pulcherrima'' M.G.Gilbert & Sebsebe, which is endemic to central Ethiopia, is used medicinally and has become scarce in the wild due to harvesting, but is increasingly cultivated in gardens. According to CITES, ''Aloe scabrifolia'' L.E.Newton & Lavranos from Kenya is threatened as a result of overexploitation for medicinal use and exudate extraction; the leaf exudate is brown and contains much aloin A. The So people of Uganda use the exudate of ''Aloe wilsonii'' Reynolds from north-western Kenya and north-eastern Uganda externally to cure eye infections, headache and body pains, while an infusion of the whole plant is taken as an emetic; pounded roots and leaves are applied to aching teeth. The leaf exudate is yellow and turns brownish when drying.

	~~== Description ==~~



	~~== Other botanical information ==~~



	~~== Growth and development ==~~



	== Ecology ==		== Ecology ==
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	== Author(s) ==		== Author(s) ==

	* C.H. Bosch		* C.H. Bosch, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

	PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

	== Correct citation of this article ==		== Correct citation of this article ==
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	[[fr:{{PAGENAME}}]]		[[fr:{{PAGENAME}}]]
	[[Category:PROTA ~~prov~~]]		[[Category:PROTA]]
			[[Category:Medicinal plants (PROTA)]]

WikiSysop at 09:03, 26 June 2014

2014-06-26T09:03:58Z

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	~~<big>''[[Aloe flexilifolia]]'' Christian</big>~~
	{{PROTAUpperbar}}		{{PROTAUpperbar}}
	{{PROTA Starbox		{{PROTA Starbox
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			<big>''[[Aloe flexilifolia]]'' Christian</big>

	__NOTOC__		__NOTOC__
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	:Protologue: Journ. S. African Bot. 8(2): 167 (1942).		:Protologue: Journ. S. African Bot. 8(2): 167 (1942).

	:Family: Asphodelaceae		:Family: Asphodelaceae

	== Synonyms ==		== Synonyms ==
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	== Correct citation of this article ==		== Correct citation of this article ==

	Bosch, C.H., 2006. '''Aloe flexilifolia''' Christian. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>.		Bosch, C.H., 2006. '''Aloe flexilifolia''' Christian. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>.

	Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.		Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.

WikiSysop: Created page with "''Aloe flexilifolia'' Christian {{PROTAUpperbar}} {{PROTA Starbox | General importance= 1 | Geographic coverage Africa= 1 | Geographic coverage World= 1 | Medic..."

2014-06-25T14:34:13Z

Created page with "<big>''Aloe flexilifolia'' Christian</big> {{PROTAUpperbar}} {{PROTA Starbox | General importance= 1 | Geographic coverage Africa= 1 | Geographic coverage World= 1 | Medic..."

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<big>''[[Aloe flexilifolia]]'' Christian</big>
{{PROTAUpperbar}}
{{PROTA Starbox
| General importance= 1
| Geographic coverage Africa= 1
| Geographic coverage World= 1
| Medicinal= 1
| Conservation status= 5
}}

__NOTOC__

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Aloe flexilifolia'' (PROTA)}}

:Protologue: Journ. S. African Bot. 8(2): 167 (1942).

:Family: Asphodelaceae

== Synonyms ==

== Vernacular names ==

== Origin and geographic distribution ==

''Aloe flexilifolia'' is endemic to the Usambara Mountains of north-east Tanzania.

== Uses ==

Sap from crushed roots and leaves of ''Aloe flexilifolia'' is applied by the Shambaa people of Tanzania to reduce swelling of the testicles and scrotum.

== Properties ==

The distinctive constituents in ''Aloe'' are phenolic compounds, notably chromone, anthraquinone or anthrone derivatives. The exudate of ''Aloe flexilifolia'' is known to be caustic, and is rich in aloin. Aloin is the active ingredient and has purgative properties. Other compounds of interest for their medicinal activity in this and other ''Aloe'' species are the polysaccharides contained in the gel from the core of the leaves, and lectins found in several plant parts.

== Botany ==

Succulent perennial shrub; stem stout, erect and up to 1 m tall or slender, pendulous and up to 2 m long, much branched from the base forming large clumps. Leaves laxly crowded at top of branches, hanging down; stipules absent; petiole absent; blade narrowly lanceolate, up to 50 cm × 7 cm, apex long-acuminate, margin hard and tough, with pale brown sharp teeth 1–2 mm long, 1–2 cm apart, blade pale bluish green with a few white spots when young; exudate drying brown. Inflorescence consisting of erect, cylindrical racemes, 10–15(–30) cm × 8 cm, densely flowered; peduncle horizontal to down-curved, 50–65 cm long, with 6–8 branches, lowest branches occasionally rebranched; bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5–6 mm long. Flowers bisexual, regular, 3-merous; pedicel 12–18 mm long; perianth tubular, up to 3.5 cm long × c. 8 mm, lobes 6, 10–12 mm long, bright red or brownish red, sometimes yellow; stamens 6, exserted; ovary superior, 3-celled, style filiform, stigma head-shaped, exserted. Fruit unknown.

''Aloe'' comprises about 450 species in Africa and Arabia, of which c. 315 occur in mainland Africa, c. 100 are endemic to Madagascar or the Indian Ocean islands (including the former ''Lomatophyllum'') and c. 50 occur in Arabia. ''Aloe flexilifolia'' belongs to a group of species with decumbent, sprawling or pendulous stems. Several other East African species in this group have medicinal uses. The leaf sap of ''Aloe carolineae'' L.E.Newton is used in Kenya to cure eye disorders. ''Aloe pulcherrima'' M.G.Gilbert & Sebsebe, which is endemic to central Ethiopia, is used medicinally and has become scarce in the wild due to harvesting, but is increasingly cultivated in gardens. According to CITES, ''Aloe scabrifolia'' L.E.Newton & Lavranos from Kenya is threatened as a result of overexploitation for medicinal use and exudate extraction; the leaf exudate is brown and contains much aloin A. The So people of Uganda use the exudate of ''Aloe wilsonii'' Reynolds from north-western Kenya and north-eastern Uganda externally to cure eye infections, headache and body pains, while an infusion of the whole plant is taken as an emetic; pounded roots and leaves are applied to aching teeth. The leaf exudate is yellow and turns brownish when drying.

== Description ==

== Other botanical information ==

== Growth and development ==

== Ecology ==

''Aloe flexilifolia'' occurs on rocky slopes and cliff-faces at 1000–1250 m altitude.

== Management ==

''Aloe flexilifolia'' can easily be propagated by suckers and stem cuttings.

== Genetic resources ==

Harvesting from the wild for medicinal and ornamental uses and habitat destruction are major threats to many ''Aloe'' species. All ''Aloe'' species, except ''Aloe vera'' (L.) Burm.f. are listed by CITES. The status of ''Aloe flexilifolia'' is classified as ‘Undetermined’. However, in view of its restricted range and a general decline in Tanzania of populations of medicinally used ''Aloe'' species, ‘Vulnerable’ would probably be a more appropriate classification.

== Prospects ==

Research into the chemical composition and affinities of ''Aloe'' species is well underway. However, the ethnobotanical aspects of less important species such as ''Aloe flexilifolia'' are poorly documented. The high aloin content makes ''Aloe flexilifolia'' a potential crop plant. Growing ''Aloe'' as a commercial crop might take the pressure off wild populations but more research is needed to identify the species best suited for domestication and their requirements in cultivation.

== Major references ==

* Carter, S., 1994. Aloaceae. In: Polhill, R.M. (Editor). Flora of Tropical East Africa. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands. 60 pp.

* CITES, 2003. Review of significant trade: East African Aloes. [Internet] http://www.cites.org/ eng/com/ PC/14/E-PC14-09-02-02-A4.pdf. May 2004.

* Morgan, W.T.W., 1981. Ethnobotany of the Turkana: use of plants by a pastoral people and their livestock in Kenya. Economic Botany 35(1): 96–130.

* Newton, L.E., 2001. Aloe In: Eggli, U. (Editor). Illustrated handbook of succulent plants: Monocotyledons. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany. pp. 103–186.

* Reynolds, T., 1996. Chemotaxonomy of Aloe turkanensis and Aloe scabrifolia from Kenya. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 24(4): 347–352.

== Other references ==

* Demissew Sebsebe & Gilbert, M.G., 1997. Aloaceae. In: Edwards, S., Mesfin Tadesse, Demissew Sebsebe & Hedberg, I. (Editors). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Volume 6. Hydrocharitaceae to Arecaceae. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Department of Systematic Botany, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. pp. 117–135.

* Groom, Q.J. & Reynolds, T., 1987. Barbaloin in Aloe species. Planta Medica 53: 345–348.

* Heine, B. & König, C., 1988. Plant concepts and plant use; an ethnobotanical survey of the semi-arid and arid lands of East Africa. Part 2. Plants of the So (Uganda). Cologne Development Studies 7. Breitenbach, Saarbrücken, Germany. 140 pp.

* Kokwaro, J.O., 1993. Medicinal plants of East Africa. 2nd Edition. Kenya Literature Bureau, Nairobi, Kenya. 401 pp.

* Newton, L.E. & Lavranos, J.J., 1990. Two new aloes from Kenya, with notes on the identity of Aloe turkanensis. Cactus and Succulent Journal 62(5): 215–221.

* Reynolds, T., 1997. Comparative chromatographic patterns of leaf exudate components from Aloe Section Pachydendron Haw. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 125(1): 45–70.

== Author(s) ==

* C.H. Bosch

PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

== Correct citation of this article ==

Bosch, C.H., 2006. '''Aloe flexilifolia''' Christian. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>.

Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.

* See the [http://www.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?en=1&p=Aloe+flexilifolia+Christian Prota4U] database.

[[fr:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:PROTA prov]]