Common Names: aloe Latin Names: Aloe vera, Aloe africana, Aloe arborescens, Aloe barbadensis Background

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Key References

• 
  Aloe. Natural Medicines website. Accessed at naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com on October 14, 2019. [Database subscription].
  
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  Fifi AC, Axelrod CH, Chakraborty P, et al. Herbs and spices in the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders: a review of clinical trials. Nutrients. 2018;10(11):E1715.
  
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  Long V. Aloe vera in dermatology—the plant of immortality. JAMA Dermatology. 2016;152(12):1364.
  
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  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. NTP Speaks About Aloe Vera. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsroom/interviews/aloevera/index.cfm. Accessed on June 24, 2020.
  
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  National Toxicology Program. Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of a nondecolorized whole leaf extract of Aloe barbadensis Miller in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice (drinking water study). August 2013.
  
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  Norman G, Christie J, Liu Z, et al. Antiseptics for burns. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2017(7):CD011821. Accessed at www.cochranelibrary.com on October 31, 2019.
  
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  Quezeda SM, Briscoe J, Cross RK. Complementary and alternative medicine. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. 2016;22(6):1523-1530.
  
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  Rodriguez S, Dentali S, Powell D. Aloe vera. In: Coates PM, Betz JM, Blackman MR, et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Informa Healthcare; 2010:7-14.
  

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Aloe vera (/ˈæloʊ(i) vɛrə, vɪər-/)^[3] is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe.^[4] It is widely distributed, and is considered an invasive species in many world regions.^[4][5]
An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world.^[4] It is cultivated for commercial products, mainly as a topical treatment used over centuries.^[4][5] The species is attractive for decorative purposes, and succeeds indoors as a potted plant.^[6]
It is used in many consumer products, including beverages, skin lotion, cosmetics, ointments or in the form of gel for minor burns and sunburns. There is little clinical evidence for the effectiveness or safety of Aloe vera extract as a cosmetic or topical drug.^[5][7] The name derives from Latin as aloe and vera ("true").
Etymology and common names[edit]

Teeth on the leaf edges
The botanical name derives from Latin, aloe (also from Greek), having uncertain origin, and vera ("true") from Latin.^[8] Common names use aloe with a region of its distribution, such as Chinese aloe, Cape aloe or Barbados aloe.^{[2][5][9][10]}
Description[edit]