Title: Aloe
Literature References: Genus of succulent plants (family Liliaceae) having triangular, spear-like leaves with thorny ridges. Habit. Africa, southern Arabia, Madagascar. Naturalized in the West Indies, southern U.S., Central America, Asia. Several species have been used medicinally, primarily Aloe barbadensis Miller (also known as Aloe vera Linné, Curaçao aloe, or Barbados aloe) and Aloe ferox Miller (also known as Cape aloe). "Drug aloe", used as a cathartic, is the dried latex or bitter, yellow exudate from the leaf bundle sheath cells. The latex contains varying amounts of aloin, aloe-emodin, chrysophanic acid, q.q.v., volatile oil, and resins. Aloe vera gel is the fresh mucilaginous gel obtained from the parenchymatous tissue in the leaf center, used for its emollient and wound healing activity. Physical and chemical properties of the gel: Y.-T. Wang, K. J. Strong, Phytother. Res. 7, S1 (1993). Effects in wound healing: J. P. Heggers et al., ibid. S48. Reviews: D. Grindlay, T. Reynolds, J. Ethnopharmacol. 16, 117-151 (1986); A. D. Klein et al., J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 18, 714-720 (1988); R. M. Shelton, Int. J. Dermatol. 30, 679-683 (1991).
Derivative Type: Aloeresin A
CAS Registry Number: 74545-79-2
CAS Name: 7-Hydroxy-8-[2-O-[(2E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-oxo-2-propenyl]-b-D-glucopyranosyl]-5-methyl-2-(2-oxopropyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
Molecular Formula: C28H28O11
Molecular Weight: 540.52
Percent Composition: C 62.22%, H 5.22%, O 32.56%
Literature References: A major constituent of Cape aloe latex. Structure: P. Gramatica et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 23, 2423 (1982). HPLC determn in plant and commerical preparations: N. Okamura et al., J. Chromatogr. A 746, 225 (1996).
Properties: mp 148-150°. uv max in methanol: 228, 252, 300 nm (e 34250, 25000, 37960).
Melting point: mp 148-150°
Absorption maximum: uv max in methanol: 228, 252, 300 nm (e 34250, 25000, 37960)
Therap-Cat: Latex as laxative; gel as emollient, vulnerary. |