title: Unraveling the medicinal potential of South African Aloe species.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aloe species (family: Xanthorrhoeaceae) are widely used in ethnomedicine for treating various ailments. Approximately 125 Aloe taxa are documented as indigenous to South Africa. This review was aimed at critically evaluating the available data on the ethnomedicinal uses, pharmacological activities, safety and conservation status of the documented South African Aloe species.
  
  
  METHODS
  A detailed search using major electronic search engines (such as Google Scholar, Scopus and Scirus) and ethnobotanical literature was undertaken. Search terms used included 'medicinal properties of Aloe species', 'biological activity of South African Aloe species' and 'safety and toxicological evaluation of aloes'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although Aloe species are widely used as laxatives and for treating wound and skin-related ailments, only about 20% of South African Aloe species have been clearly documented for their medicinal uses. The pharmacological potential including the antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antiplasmodial and anthelmintic activities of some of the species has been established, providing a rationale for their use in traditional medicine. Successful micropropagation protocols have been developed as a conservation strategy, but only for a few species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The highlighted medicinal activities of some Aloe species indicate their therapeutic potential. Nonetheless, further research especially on the understudied species is required to properly document their ethnomedicinal uses and fully explore their pharmacological value.
authors: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
authors: Stephen O
authors: SO
authors: Amoo
authors: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
authors: Adeyemi O
authors: AO
authors: Aremu
authors: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa. Electronic address: rcpgd@ukzn.ac.za.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Van Staden
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006801:Humans; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Biological activity; Conservation; Micropropagation; Secondary metabolites; Traditional medicine; Xanthorrhoeaceae