Aloe ferox, a natural protection for your skin

Aloe ferox, a plant also known as Cape Aloe, Bitter Aloe, Red Aloe and Tap Aloe [2], indigenous to South Africa's Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Lesotho [2] and registered in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) [2], as its close relative Aloe vera is known also for being part of the the preparation of non-alcoholic beverages and smoothies.

In South Africa Aloe ferox has also been traditionally used as part of natural remedies for the treatment of constipation and other ailments [3], as well as to control worms in goats in Eastern Cape Province [4], however it seems the properties of this plant may extend to other broader uses as studies on it show, this article treats some of them.  Photograph: Aloe ferox by (2008) Dr. David Midgley licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

ALOE FEROX

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
Common name: Cape Aloe, Bitter Aloe, Red Aloe and Tap Aloe [2].

Tyrosinase is known to be the key enzyme in melanin biosynthesis.Melanin is the pigment responsible for the color of eyes, hair, and skin in humans [1]. Over activity of this enzyme leads to dermatological disorders such as age spots, melanoma and sites of actinic damage [1]. Image left: Harpephyllum caffrum by (2008) Tony Rodd, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

In a study performed at the University of Limpopo, South Africa, from where Aloe ferox originates, it was discovered that Aloe ferox was among the strongest Tyrosinase inhibitor, showing a 60% of tyrosinase inhibitory power in the tests done on this plant, well above the other plants tested, namely Aloe aculeata, Aloe pretoriensis, and Aloe sessiliflora [1]. The study was done among ten different plants belonging to four families (Asphodelaceae, Anacardiaceae, Oleaceae, and Rutaceae). In the same study Harpephyllum caffrum (leaves) at a concentration of 500 μg/mL had an inhibitory effect of 70% [1] (image left above).

ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF ALOE FEROX LEAF EXTRACT

There were several active constituents found on the leaf extracts of Aloe ferox [3], being its percentage the following:

Onephenols (70.33), flavonols (35.2), proanthocyanidins (171.06) and alkaloids (60.9)

Others as flavonoids and saponins were also found in high quantities together with some tannins [3].

Whole leaf extracts showed a high level of free radical scavenging activity, antioxidant property that was confirmed after analyzing the results of of the study in question [3], something that shows the potential of Aloe ferox as a powerful antioxidant with benefits as a potential ingredient in medical and food industry products [3].

REFERENCES

[1] Melanogenesis and antityrosinase activity of selected South african plants.
Mapunya MB, Nikolova RV, Lall N.
Wintola OA, Afolayan AJ. Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa.
Department of Livestock and Pasture Sciences, University of Fort Hare, P/Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa. Maphosa V, Masika PJ.

[2] Wikipedia article on Aloe ferox

[3] Phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activities of the whole leaf extract of Aloe ferox Mill.

[4] In vivo validation of Aloe ferox (Mill). Elephantorrhiza elephantina Bruch. Skeels. and Leonotis leonurus (L) R. BR as potential anthelminthics and antiprotozoals against mixed infections of gastrointestinal nematodes in goats.Department of Biodiversity, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, University of Limpopo (UL), Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.

[5] Phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activities of the whole leaf extract of Aloe ferox Mill
Olubunmi Abosebe Wintola and Anthony Jide Afolayan