Aloe
アロエ
Market name:アロエ
Photo location:Museum of Materia Medica, Inst. of Nat. Med., Univ. of Toyama
TMPW No.:7516

Synonym  
Latin name Aloe
Botanical source: Family name Liliaceae
Botanical source: Plant name - Aloe ferox Miller (IPNI:529449-1)
- Aloe ferox Miller × Aloe africana Miller
- Aloe ferox Miller × Aloe spicata Baker
Part used Dried juice of the leaves
Empirical criteria for quality selection Good one is solid and dark brown. The cross- section is smooth and has glassy luster. (TN)
Constituents Polysaccharides:
Glycoprotein
[Cape Aloes, Socotrine Aloes, Curacao Aloes]: Loctin A

Anthraquinones:
[Cape Aloes, Socotrine Aloes, Curacao Aloes]: Barbaloin, Aloinoside A, Aloinoside B, Aloe-emodin, Chrysophanol, Aloe-emodin rhamnoside, Rhabarberon;
[Curacao Aloes]: Isobarbaloin;
[Natal Aloes]: Homonataloin;
[Aloe saponaria Haw.]: Aloesaponarin I, Aloesaponarin II, Laccaic acid D methyl ester, Desoxyerythrolaccin

Chromones:
[Cape Aloes, Socotrine Aloes, Curacao Aloes]: Aloesin, 2''-O-p-Coumaroylaloesin, 2''-O-Feruloylaloesin;
Aloesin(Aloeresin B), Aloeresin A, Aloesone(2-Acetonyl-7-hydroxy-5-methylchromone), Aloesol, (2'R)-Aloesol, (2'S)-Aloesol, (2'R)-8-C-Glucosylaloesol, (2'S)-8-C-Glucosylaloesol, (2'R)-8-C-Glucosyl-7-O-metylaloesol, (2'S)-8-C-Glucosyl-7-O-metylaloesol, 7-O-Methylaloesin, Aloesin 2",3",4",6"-tetra-O-acetate

α-Pyrones:
[A. arborescens Miller var. natalensis Berger]: Aloearbonaside

Other aromatic compounds:
p-Coumaric acid

Naphthalenes:
[A. saponaria]: Aloesaponol I, Aloesaponol II
Pharmacological effects Barbaloin: hypercholeresis in small dose, enhanced bowel movement. Barbaloin is C-glycoside of aloe-emodin anthrone. It is metabolized into aloe-emodin anthrone by Eubacterium sp. BAR, enteric bacteria in human intestine. This component stimulates peristalsis and has cathartic effect.
Indications It is widely used for chronic constipation as a laxative. It is applied for apepsia and chronic gastric catarrh as a stomachic in small doses. Since it doesn't contain tannin, it doesn't cause constipation after laxation. In large doses, it congests intestinal wall and pelvic lumen. Therefore, it must be used carefully during menstrual or pregnancy period and hemorrhoid.
Diseases Constipation, Lightheadedness, Red eye, Insomnia, Ear buzzing, Restlessness, Abdominal pain, Malnutrition, Dental caries
Formulas
Meridian tropism Liver, stomach, large intestine
Property Cold
Flavor Bitter
Classification in "Shen-non Ben-cao Jing"  
TCM: Classification Purgatives
TCM: Medicinal effects To remove heat from the liver, and to relax the bowels.
Used for constipation, infantile malnutrition due to improper feeding and convulsion, external use for eczema and ringworm.
Remarks Listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18th ed.
References TN: T. Namba & Y. Tsuda ed., Outline of Pharmacognosy, a Textbook, 3rd ed., Nankodo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 1998.
 

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Section of Pharmacognosy,
Division of Medicinal Resources,
Department of Research and Development,
Institute of Natural Medicine,
University of Toyama
2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194 Japan
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