culm Flashcards
name and intro of plant
Aloe Barbadensis Miller is scientifically and commonly known as Aloe vera. It is a green, shrubby succulent that belongs to the Asphodelaceae (Liliaceae) family
s culturally significant worldwide, therefore depending on the region it can be called different names such as Chinese aloe, Cape aloe, or Barbados aloe (World Flora Online, n.d.). Aloe Barbadensis Miller is an older synonym for the plant, while the term Aloe Vera is scientifically accepted in modern botanical nomenclature.
habitat of plant
Aloe vera can be found worldwide, but it is predominantly located in desert-like areas in Africa and India. Originating from the Arabian Peninsula,
the plant grows in various soil types with a pH of 7.0 to 8.5
and can grow at altitudes ranging from sea level to 2,700 meters (Khajeeyan et al., 2018). I
t can adapt to a variety of ecosystems, living in “closed-canopy forests (trees that are very close together and shade out the ground) to desert shrub lands” (Khajeeyan et al., 2018).
Different aloe species thrive in different conditions, as the majority of aloe plants thrive in well draining, sandy or rocky soils.
They are drought-resistant and grow in a temperate range of 4 °C to 21 °C (Khajeeyan et al., 2018).
biotic relationship
Aloe vera flowers bloom during late spring to attract pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. This increases biodiversity, promoting genetic diversity (cross pollination) and allowing for sexual reproduction.
Aloe vera and mycorrhizal fungi form a symbiotic mutualistic relationship (Khajeeyan et al., 2019). Within the relationship, the fungi enhances the absorption of essential nutrients, while also helping the plant survive through environmental stressors (Dulson et al., 2011, p. 84).
Fungi enhances nutrient absorption through their hyphae, which penetrates the soil deeper than plant roots, increasing their surface area (Dulson et al., 2011, p. 84).
Aloe vera plants that form a relationship with mycorrhizal fungi are more drought resistant compared to plants without mycorrhizal fungi (Khajeeyan et al., 2019).
Aloe vera supplies the fungi with carbohydrates produced during photosynthesis and provides a protected environment for the fungi to thrive in.
Role in ecosystem
. Aloe vera’s extensive root system aids in soil conservation and erosion control. T
he plant’s shallow, fibrous root, forms a network that binds soil particles together, stabilizing the soil, and prevents surface water runoff (Khajeeyan et al., 2018).
Stabilization of soil contributes to the preservation of fertile land and prevents the loss of the top layer of soil, which is crucial in sustaining other plants.
Mature Aloe vera plants produce flowers during their blooming season, contributing to biodiversity by attracting insects for pollination (Goodman, 2023).
This further promotes biodiversity, as insects attract other organisms. Certain Aloe species, such as Aloe Secundiflora, are able to act as nurse plants, creating a variety of microenvironments for other species to grow (Khajeeyan et al., 2018). They provide shade, reduce soil temperatures, and moisture, for other plants.
These species take over barren landscapes, most often dry, degraded, or sparsely vegetated lands, offering improved environmental conditions (Khajeeyan et al., 2018).
general characteristics
Aloe vera is a seed producing angiosperm plant that is monocotyledonous (Karki, 2024).
Aloe vera plants have vascular tissues, therefore they are classified as tracheophytes.
As a monocot plant, Aloe vera has a single cotyledon, fibrous roots, parallel-veined leaves, vascular bundles that are scattered throughout the stem, and flower petals that are in multiples of three (Karki, 2024).
methods of reproducing asexual
Aloe vera reproduces asexually through vegetative propagation and sexually through seeds (Sloane, 2022).
Aloe vera grows rhizomes, which is a horizontal, underground plant stem that grows roots and shoots from its nodes, often referred to as pups.
Once the pups are matured, they are separated from the parent plant to grow independently (Sloane, 2022). They can naturally fall off or be artificially removed.
methods of reproducing sexual
Aloe vera is an angiosperm, and can reproduce sexually through flowering.
Aloe vera flowers can produce many seeds, which develop after the process of pollination and fertilization (Surjushe, Vasani & Saple, 2008).
Pollination is the process where pollen (containing the male gametes) is transferred from the anthers to the stigma (a tube structure that leads to the ovaries) (Surjushe, Vasani & Saple, 2008). Pollinators such as bees and birds, aid the plant in pollination and can introduce genetic diversity, if the plant is cross-pollinated (Sloane, 2022).
After the male and female gametes come into contact, fertilization begins the development of seeds. For fertilization to occur, one sperm cell from the pollen grain fuses with the egg cell in the ovule to form a zygote, while another sperm cell fuses with two polar nuclei to form an endosperm (a tissue containing nutrients and proteins for the seed) (Dulson et al., 2011, p. 600).
medicinal usuage (digestion)
Aloe latex is a yellow bitter liquid taken from the Aloe leaf, it can be consumed as a juice or from the leaf in gel-form (Griffin & Watson, 2024).
Aloe vera latex is taken as a laxative to help with digestion and constipation (Griffin & Watson, 2024). Aloe vera serves as a laxative due to the amount of anthraquinones within the plant (White, 2024).
Anthraquinones are laxatives because they are able to increase the amount of fluid in the colon, which softens the content of the colon, allowing it to pass easily (Bolen, 2024).
However, over usage of Aloe vera latex leads to diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and electrolyte imbalance (Griffin & Watson, 2024).
whats better than aloe better latex?
Over-the-counter laxatives such as “Philip’s Milk of Magnesia” are recommended over Aloe vera latex.
Philip’s Milk of Magnesia is an osmotic-type laxative that draws water into the intestines (WebMD, n.d.). Proper use of over-the-counter laxatives are safer and better regulated than aloe latex.
medicinal usage (wound healing)
Topical application of Aloe vera can prevent ulcers and help with wound healing, such as burns, skin infections, inflammation and pressure sores (Hekmatpou et al, 2019). The plant contains magnesium lactate (Lubeck, 2024).
When applied topically can prevent histamine production (Lubeck, 2024). Histamine is a chemical released within the immune system, known for causing allergy symptoms such as inflammation, irritation and skin itching (Cleveland Clinic, 2023b).
Anthraquinones such as aloin, this organic compound has antibacterial and antiviral properties that help with inflammation (Surjushe, Vasani & Saple, 2008). Aloin inhibits cytokines and reactive oxygen species production (Sánchez et al., 2020). Cytokines are signalling proteins that control inflammation in your body, it is a defensive mechanism to block substances that can potentially make you sick from entering your body (Cleveland Clinic, 2023a). Reactive oxygen species is a type of unstable molecule that contains oxygen, it causes damage to DNA, RNA and proteins and can cause cell death (National Cancer Institute, n.d.).
similar usage to aloe vera gel for sskin
Aloe vera can be used as a substitute for petroleum jelly (vaseline), silver sulfadiazine 1% ointment, and framycetin cream, due to its ability to reduce recovery time and prevent infection (Hekmatpou et al, 2019).
These medications are used to protect wounds, as petroleum jelly acts as a physical barrier to prevent moisture loss, silver sulfadiazine releases silver ions to prevent infections (Memon, 2024), and framycetin is a antibiotic to prevent bacterial infections (HealthLinkBC, n.d.).
societal uses of the plant
Aloe vera comes in many forms, such as a gel, juice, cream, capsule, powder, mouthwash or ointment, depending on its intended purpose. Traditionally, the gel within its leaf is used for treating skin injuries and digestive problems, due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and wound healing properties (Khajeeyan et al., 2018).
Aloe vera is mostly used in Asia, specifically in India and Nepal for its cooling effects. In India, Aloe vera is extensively used in the traditional health care system.
The juice treated heat stroke and gastrinal intestinal problems (Khajeeyan et al., 2018). While the leaf gel powder was mixed with other ingredients such as raw turmeric juice, to be used as ear and nose droppers to reduce infections (Khajeeyan et al., 2018).
Ingesting the gel is commonly used for constipation, rectal infection and ulcers. In Nepal, Aloe vera leaves were chewed to cure skin and uterine disorders (Khajeeyan et al., 2018).
Around the world, Aloe vera is used in dermatology, often being advertised and used for its moisturizing and soothing effects (Leech, 2023).
