Editing Aloe (section)

==Uses==
Aloe species are frequently cultivated as ornamental plants both in gardens and in pots. Many aloe species are highly decorative and are valued by collectors of succulents. ''Aloe vera'' is used both internally and externally on humans as [[folk medicine|folk]] or [[alternative medicine|alternative]] medicine.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Woźniak |first1=Anna |last2=Paduch |first2=Roman |date=2012-02-01 |title=Aloe vera extract activity on human corneal cells |journal=Pharmaceutical Biology |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=147–154 |doi=10.3109/13880209.2011.579980 |issn=1388-0209 |pmid=22338121|s2cid=40123094 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The ''Aloe'' species is known for its medicinal and cosmetic properties.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Fentaw|first1=Eshetu|last2=Dagne|first2=Kifle|last3=Wondimu|first3=Tigist|last4=Demissew|first4=Sebsebe|last5=Bjorå|first5=Charlotte S.|last6=Grace|first6=Olwen M.|date=2020-11-11|title=Uses and perceived sustainability of Aloe L. (Asphodelaceae) in the central and northern Highlands of Ethiopia|journal=South African Journal of Botany|volume=147 |pages=1042–1050 |language=en|doi=10.1016/j.sajb.2020.11.001|s2cid=228929133|issn=0254-6299|doi-access=free}}</ref> Around 75% of ''Aloe'' species are used locally for medicinal uses.<ref name=":0" /> The plants can also be made into types of special soaps or used in other skin care products (see [[natural skin care]]).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Radha |first1=Maharjan H. |last2=Laxmipriya |first2=Nampoothiri P. |date=2015-01-01 |title=Evaluation of biological properties and clinical effectiveness of Aloe vera: A systematic review |journal=Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine |language=en |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=21–26 |doi=10.1016/j.jtcme.2014.10.006 |issn=2225-4110 |pmc=4488101 |pmid=26151005}}</ref>

Numerous cultivars with mixed or uncertain parentage are grown. Of these, ''Aloe'' 'Lizard Lips' has gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]].<ref name = RHSPF>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/249001/i-Aloe-i-Lizard-Lips/Details
| title = RHS Plantfinder - ''Aloe'' 'Lizard Lips'
| publisher=Royal Horticultural Society | date=2012 | access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref>

''Aloe variegata'' has been planted on graves in the belief that this ensures eternal life.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Klopper |first1=Ronell |last2=Smith |first2=Gideon |title=Aloe genus L. |url=http://pza.sanbi.org/aloe-genus |website=PlantZAfrica |access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>

===Historical uses===
[[File:Aloe, Juliana Anicia Codex.jpg|thumb|Depiction of Aloe, labeled in Greek "ΑΛΟΗ" (Aloë) from the [[Juliana Anicia Codex]], a copy, written in [[Constantinople]] in 515 AD, of [[Dioscorides]]' 1st century AD work.<ref name="Folio 15 Juliana Anicia Codex">Folio 15 [[Juliana Anicia Codex]]</ref>]]
Historical use of various aloe species is well documented. Documentation of the clinical effectiveness is available, although relatively limited.<ref name=NIH/><ref>{{cite book|title=Aloes: the Genus ''Aloe'' |year=2004 |publisher=CRC Press |location=Boca Raton |isbn=978-0-415-30672-0 |editor=Tom Reynolds}}</ref>

Of the 500+ species, only a few were used traditionally as [[herbal medicine]]s, ''Aloe vera'' again being the most commonly used species. Also included are ''A. perryi'' and ''A. ferox''. The Ancient Greeks and Romans used ''Aloe vera'' to treat wounds. In the Middle Ages, the yellowish liquid found inside the leaves was favored as a [[purgative]].<ref name="Folio 15 Juliana Anicia Codex"/> Unprocessed aloe that contains [[aloin]] is generally used as a laxative, whereas processed juice does not usually contain significant aloin.<ref name=AloeSideEffects>{{cite web|url=http://www.superfoodliving.com/aloe-vera-juice-how-to-make-it-and-its-side-effects|title=Aloe Vera Juice - How to Make it and its Side Effects|date=November 20, 2015}}</ref>

According to [[Cancer Research UK]], a potentially deadly product called T-UP is made of concentrated aloe, and promoted as a cancer cure. They say "there is currently no evidence that aloe products can help to prevent or treat cancer in humans".<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/aloe-vera
|title=Aloe
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]]
|access-date=30 August 2013
|archive-date=6 August 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806214058/http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/aloe-vera
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

===Aloin in OTC laxative products===
On May 9, 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule banning the use of aloin, the yellow sap of the aloe plant, for use as a laxative ingredient in [[over-the-counter drug]] products.<ref name="pmid12001972">{{cite journal |title=Status of certain additional over-the-counter drug category II and III active ingredients. Final rule |journal=Fed Regist |volume=67 |issue=90 |pages=31125–7 |year=2002 |pmid=12001972 |publisher= Food and Drug Administration, HHS|last1=Food Drug Administration |first1=HHS }}</ref> Most aloe juices today do not contain significant aloin.

=== Chemical properties ===
According to W. A. Shenstone, two classes of aloins are recognized: (1) nataloins, which yield [[picric acid|picric]] and [[oxalic acid]]s with [[nitric acid]], and do not give a red coloration with nitric acid; and (2) [[barbaloin]]s, which yield aloetic acid (C<sub>7</sub>H<sub>2</sub>N<sub>3</sub>O<sub>5</sub>), chrysammic acid (C<sub>7</sub>H<sub>2</sub>N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>6</sub>), picric and oxalic acids with nitric acid, being reddened by the acid. This second group may be divided into a-barbaloins, obtained from Barbados ''Aloe'', and reddened in the cold, and b-barbaloins, obtained from ''Aloe Socotrina'' and Zanzibar ''Aloe'', reddened by ordinary nitric acid only when warmed or by fuming acid in the cold. Nataloin (2C<sub>17</sub>H<sub>13</sub>O<sub>7</sub>·H<sub>2</sub>O) forms bright-yellow scales, barbaloin (C<sub>17</sub>H<sub>18</sub>O<sub>7</sub>) [[Prism (geometry)|prism]]atic crystals. ''Aloe'' species are used in essential oils as a safety measure to dilute the solution before they are applied to the skin.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Orchard|first1=Ané|last2=Kamatou|first2=Guy|last3=Viljoen|first3=Alvaro M.|last4=Patel|first4=Namita|last5=Mawela|first5=Patricia|last6=van Vuuren|first6=Sandy F.|date=2019-01-14|title=The Influence of Carrier Oils on the Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Essential Oils|journal=Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine|volume=2019|pages=1–24|doi=10.1155/2019/6981305|issn=1741-427X|pmc=6348851|pmid=30733812|doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Flavoring ===
''Aloe perryi'', ''A. barbadensis'', ''A. ferox'', and hybrids of this species with ''A. africana'' and ''A. spicata'' are listed as natural flavoring substances in the US government ''Electronic Code of Federal Regulations''.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=3a096fd1d813e0b6f476ecd1470e7e4a&node=pt21.3.172&rgn=div5#se21.3.172_1510| title = §172.510 Natural flavoring substances and natural substances used in conjunction with flavors e-CFR}}</ref> ''Aloe socotrina'' is said to be used in yellow [[Chartreuse (liqueur)|Chartreuse]].<ref>John Tellman (1900) [https://archive.org/details/practicalhotelst01tell ''The Practical Hotel Steward''], The Hotel Monthly, Chicago</ref>