Ferox Mill Research Articles

Thermodynamic, chemical, and electrochemical studies of Aloe ferox Mill extract as a naturally developing copper corrosion inhibitor in HCl solution

Copper can be susceptible to corrosion in acidic cleaning solutions for desalination system, especially if the solution is highly concentrated or if the cleaning process involves extended exposure to the acid. In the current work, Aloe ferox Mill (AFM extract) can be used as a natural origin corrosion inhibitor for copper in 1.0 M HCl solution. The corrosion mitigation qualities of AFM extract were assessed by means of electrochemical, gravimetric, and surface examinations. AFM extract is a mixed-type inhibitor, based on polarization research findings. The inhibitory effectiveness of AFM extract rises with concentration, reaching its maximum level (93.3%) at 250 mg L–1. The inclusion of AFM extract raises the activation energy for the corrosion reaction from 7.15 kJ mol–1 (blank solution) to 28.6 kJ mol–1 (at 250 mg L–1 AFM extract).

Pytochemical profile of Aloe ferox Mill. across different regions within South Africa

Background: Aloe ferox is an indigenous medicinal plant that is widely used for its various medicinal and pharmacological properties. Despite the medicinal importance and various applications of the species, it is surprising that little is known about the extent of geographical differences in its major chemical compounds. Also, the correlation between different geographic regions and variations in plant phytochemicals has received less attention.Aim: This study sought to investigate the presence of biologically active compounds in the leaf extracts of A. ferox from different geographical regions across South Africa.Setting: This study was set in different regions within South Africa.Methods: Phytochemical screening was performed qualitatively using established standard procedures involving chemical reagents such as hexane, chloroform and methanol and a series of reactions to determine the presence of phytocompounds of biological importance.Results: The study revealed that A. ferox leaves possess several classes of phytocompounds such as alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins and fixed oils and fats across various samples. Mucilage was absent across the samples.Conclusion: The study revealed eight classes of phytochemical compounds present on A. ferox leaves in three different geographic regions, which is consistent with the previous studies; however, further research is needed to enhance the study through qualitative research, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses to validate phytochemical variations and their therapeutic effects.Contribution: This study contributes to the existing knowledge of the therapeutic Aloe genus.

Bioprospecting of endophytic actinobacterium associated with Aloe ferox mill for antibacterial activity

BackgroundThe emergence of drug resistance among pathogens has resulted in renewed interest in bioprospecting for natural microbial products.MethodsThis study aimed to bioprospecting endophytic actinobacterium associated with Aloe ferox Mill for its antibacterial activity. Endophytic actinomycetes were isolated from the gel of A. ferox Mill by surface sterilization technique using actinomycete isolation agar. The isolate with a promising antibacterial activity was identified using 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract was assessed by the micro-dilution method and its effect on the respiratory chain dehydrogenase (RCD) activity was ascertained by the iodonitrotetrazolium chloride (INT) assay. Fourier transform-infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) were employed to identify functional groups and the chemical constituents, respectively.ResultsThe actinobacterium was found to be Streptomyces olivaceus CP016795.1. Its extract displayed noteworthy antibacterial activity (MIC ≤1 mg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25925), Bacillus cereus (ATCC 10102), and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922); and showed an inhibitory effect on the RCD activity. FTIR spectrum displayed hydroxyl, amine, and aromatic groups, and the GC–MS revealed 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural as the main constituent (19.47%).ConclusionsS. olivaceus CP016795.1 can serve as a potential source of effective antibacterial compounds.

Larvicidal activity and chemical compositions of Aloe ferox mill, and Commipora abyssinica (O.Berg) combination against the mosquito vectors Culex pipiens L

The aqueous extract was prepared from the Aloe ferox, and Commipora abyssinica combined to develop a botanical mosquito larvicide. The aqueous extract and the solvent fractions obtained using liquid–liquid extraction were tested against Culex pipiens larvae for larvicidal potential. The maximum larvicidal activity was recorded for the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract with LC50values of 28.24 µg/mL followed by hexane (104.42 µg/mL), water (140.24 µg/mL), and chloroform (211.41 µg/mL) extract against the Cx. pipiens third instar 24 h post-treatment. In midguts of EtOAc extract-treated larvae, Longitudinal sections showed edema between the degenerated epithelial cells and degraded microvilli. The extract caused a dose‐dependent decrease in the percentage of cell viability of HUVEC cells suing MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The IC50value of the EtOAc extract was 143.6 µg/mL and displayed chromosomal condensation. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents calculated were 15.9 GAE/g (gallic acid equivalentper gram) and 3.69 QurE/g (Qurcetin equivalentper gram), respectively. GC–MS analysis showed that the major chemical components of the EtOAc extract were methyl ester of hexadecanoic acid (28%), 3-benzylbutanoate (9.4%), methyl ester of octadecanoic acid (8.6%), and alpha-muurolene (5.3%). The current investigations revealed the possible use of this botanical combination as a larvicide against Cx. pipienslarvae.

Characterisation of the indigenous knowledge used for gastrointestinal nematode control in smallholder farming areas of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

BackgroundThe use of indigenous knowledge (IK) to control gastrointestinal nematodes has been known since ancient times. The objective of the study was to characterise the use of indigenous knowledge to control gastrointestinal nematodes in goats.MethodsA structured questionnaire was used to collect data from farmers. Chi-square was used to compute associations; the generalized linear model was used for mean rank scores.ResultsRoundworms were the most common gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) affecting goats reared in the bushland vegetation type than grasslands. Twelve plant species were commonly used to control GIN in goats, with Cissus quadrangularis Linn. singled out as the most widely used plant with a use-value of 0.97, followed by Albizia anthelminthica Brongn. (0.66), Cissus rotundifolia (Forssk.) Vahl (0.63), Vachellia xanthophloea (Benth.) P.J.H. Hurter (0.59), Aloe marlothii A. Berger (0.58), Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (0.54), Gomphocarpus physocarpus E. Mey (0.53), Aloe maculata All. (0.50), Trichilia emetica Vahl (0.47), Aloe ferox Mill. (0.43), Vernonia neocorymbosa Hilliard (0.25) and Schkuhria pinnata (Lam) Kuntze ex Thell (0.16). C. rotundifolia, V. xanthophloea, S. birrea and T. emetica were dominant plant species used to control GIN in goats reared in the grassland vegetation. A. maculata, A. ferox and V. neocorymbosa were dominant in the bushland vegetation type.ConclusionThe study revealed that ethnoveterinary plants are widely used in grassland and bushland vegetation types to control GIN in goats. Scientific validation of their efficacy and safety should be carried out to provide a cheaper alternative, thus improving the community livelihoods and development.

Antibacterial Effect and Mode of Action of Secondary Metabolites from Fungal Endophyte Associated with Aloe ferox Mill

The constant increase in drug resistance, occurrence of incurable diseases and high medical costs, have necessitated bio-prospecting of fungi as alternative sources of therapeutic compounds. This study aimed at assessing the antibacterial effect and mode of action of secondary metabolites from fungal endophyte associated with Aloe ferox Mill. Endophytic fungus was isolated from the gel of A. ferox and identified by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rRNA gene sequence analysis. The targets of antibacterial activity were assessed based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the effect of the extract on respiratory chain dehydrogenase (RCD) and membrane integrity. Fourier transform-infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) was employed to ascertain functional groups. The fungus with the most promising antibiotic-production was identified as Aspergillus welwitschiae MK450668.1. Its extract exhibited antibacterial activity with the MIC values of 0.5 and 1 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25925) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). It demonstrated the inhibitory effect on the RCD activity and destruction of membrane integrity on the test bacteria. FTIR spectrum revealed hydroxyl, amine and alkene groups. A. welwitschiae MK450668.1 serves as a potential source of effective compounds to combat the challenge of drug resistance.

Medicinal Plants for Mitigating Pain and Inflammatory-Related Conditions: An Appraisal of Ethnobotanical Uses and Patterns in South Africa

In South Africa, traditional medicine remains the first point of call for a significant proportion of the population seeking primary healthcare needs. This is particularly important for treating common conditions including pain and inflammation which are often associated with many disease conditions. This review focuses on the analysis of the trend and pattern of plants used for mitigating pain and inflammatory-related conditions in South African folk medicine. An extensive search was conducted using various scientific databases and popular ethnobotanical literature focusing on South African ethnobotany. Based on the systematic analysis, 38 sources were selected to generate the inventory of 495 plants from 99 families that are considered as remedies for pain and inflammatory-related conditions (e.g., headache, toothache, backache, menstrual pain, and rheumatism) among different ethnic groups in South Africa. The majority (55%) of the 38 studies were recorded in three provinces, namely, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Western Cape. In terms of the number of mentions, the most popular plants used for pain and inflammatory-related conditions in South Africa were Ricinus communis L. (10), Aloe ferox Mill. (8), Pentanisia prunelloides subsp. latifolia (Hochst.) Verdc. (8), Dodonaea viscosa Jacq var. angustifolia (L.f) Benth. (8), (L.) W.T.Aiton. (7) Ruta graveolens L. (7), and Solanum aculeastrum Dunal. (7). The top five plant families represented were Asteraceae (13%), Fabaceae (8%), Apocynaceae (4.3%), Asparagaceae (4%), and Lamiaceae (4%). An estimated 54% of the recorded plants were woody (trees and shrubs) in nature, while the leaves (27%) and roots (25%) were the most dominant plant parts. The use of plants for alleviating pain and inflammatory-related conditions remains popular in South African folk medicine. The lagging ethnobotanical information from provinces such as North West, Gauteng, and Free State remains a gap that needs to be pursued meticulously in order to have a complete country-wide database.

A study of rural chicken farmers, diseases and remedies in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa

The source of emerging diseases and antimicrobial resistance is of increasing interest to epidemiologists. This paper looks at village chickens as such a source. In addition, infectious diseases constitute a major challenge to the growth and profitability of the rural poultry sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. A serological survey was conducted to estimate the apparent seroprevalence of selected chicken diseases in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa alongside a sociological survey of poultry farmers and the remedies most commonly used to prevent diseases in their flocks. Sera collected from village chickens (n = 1007) in the province were screened for specific antibodies against Newcastle disease (ND), avian influenza (AI), avian infectious bronchitis (IB) and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG).The overall seroprevalence of ND, AI, IB and MG in the province was found to be 69.2 % (95 % CI 51.9−86.5%); 1.8 % (95 % CI 0.2−3.4%); 78.5 % (95 % CI 74.9−82%) and 55.8 % (95 % CI 41.3−70.3%) respectively with clustering found at the District level. Cross hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests indicated that the chickens were exposed to the ND vaccine. AI ELISA-positive samples were tested using HIs against the H5, H6 and H7-subtypes, but only H6-specific antibodies were detected. Avian influenza strains shared the common ancestor responsible for the 2002 chicken outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal Province.The majority of chicken farmers were females and pensioners (69 % and 66.1 % respectively) and had a primary school education (47.1 %). Traditional remedies were commonly used by farmers (47.15 %) and among the remedies, Aloe plant (Aloe ferox Mill.) or ikhala (Xhosa) was the most commonly used product (28.23 %) for preventing and reducing mortalities among village chickens.The findings stress the importance of village chickens as a substitute for social welfare and highlight the exposure of village chickens to important chicken pathogens. The economic impact of these pathogens on the development of this sub-sector needs further investigation. Village chickens are a potential source of virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV) because of the lack of vaccination and biosecurity. They may serve as amplification hosts which increases the probability that virulent NDV could spill over into commercial poultry flocks due to large amounts of circulating virus. The zoonotic threat of circulating H6N2 viruses raise concern due to their mutation and reassortment among chickens and a potential movement of infected birds within the province. Finally, the use of antibiotics by untrained chicken farmers constitute another major concern as it could serve as a source of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Toxic effects of cadmium on growth of Aloe ferox Mill

Heavy metals like cadmium (Cd) are a serious threat for living organisms due to increased global environmental pollution. Aloe ferox Mill. is a very important species of the genus Aloe, especially from a medical point of view, because it is a source of biologically active substances and it is often used in the traditional medicine. Since the knowledge about the effect of heavy metals, like Cd on growth of Aloe species is scarce, this study showed the effect of Cd on anatomical, morphological and physiological properties of this important medicinal plant species. We found that Cd affected the leaf morphology and decreased biomass of the aboveground plant part. Cd also affected cuticle deposition and increased the number of stomata in the abaxial and adaxial epidermis of leaves. Roots treated with Cd showed lower lignification and decreased level of membrane lipids peroxidation than control roots. Cadmium concentration was the highest in the roots; however, relatively high portion of Cd is being translocated to the leaves. This might be dangerous as Aloe is well known medicinal plant with content of active secondary metabolites mainly in the leaves.

Lack of in vivo genotoxic effect of dried whole Aloe ferox juice.

Aloe ferox Mill is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of a broad spectrum of illnesses given its laxative, anti-inflammatory, bitter tonic, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial and anti-cancer properties. Using the in vivo alkaline comet assay in animals (OECD 489), this study investigated the potential in vivo genotoxicity of dried Aloe ferox juice at dose levels of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day in mice. Aloe ferox showed no genotoxic activity in preparations of single cells from the colon of the treated Hsd:ICR (CD-1) male mice. No statistically significant increase in DNA migration over the negative control was observed by analysis of variance for both comet parameters, tail moment and tail intensity, apart from the positive control ethyl methanesulphonate that induced clear and statistically significant increases in DNA migration parameters over the concurrent controls. The new reported scientific evidence unequivocally demonstrates that dried Aloe ferox juice containing hydroxyanthracene derivatives does not induce DNA damage in preparations of single cells from colon in in vivo comet genotoxicity studies. This suggests that the hyperplastic changes and mucosal hyperplasia observed after long-term administration of Aloe vera non-decolourised whole leaf extract may be attributed to an epigenetic effect of the material under investigation.

Aloe ×eileeniae Gideon F.Sm. & Figueiredo (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae), the natural hybrid between A. africana Mill. and A. ferox Mill. from the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

The natural hybrid between Aloe africana Mill. and A. ferox Mill. (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae), which is common in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa where the natural geographical distribution ranges of these two species overlap, is described as Aloe ×eileeniae Gideon F.Sm. & Figueiredo.

Aloe ×caesia Salm-Dyck (Asphodelaceae) is the correct name of the common hybrid aloe [Aloe arborescens Mill. × A. ferox Mill.] from the southern Cape, South Africa

Several names have been published for the common and horticulturally popular hybrid between Aloe arborescens Mill. and A. ferox Mill. (Asphodelaceae). Although inevitably a variable entity given its hybrid origin, this nothospecies can generally be recognised by being a strongly rosulate, multi-stemmed, robust shrub with glaucous to dark green leaves that are very much intermediate between those of A. arborescens and A. ferox. Plants are very floriferous with flower colour ranging from orange to red. The taxonomy and nomenclature of this nothospecies that has been known since the early 1700s, but was only described more than 100 years later, is reviewed. It is shown that the correct name to apply to it is Aloe ×caesia Salm-Dyck. The following names are typified here: Aloe africana Salm-Dyck non Mill., Aloe ×fulgens Tod., Aloe ×principis (Haw.) Stearn, Aloe ×salm-dyckiana Schult. & Schult.f., and Pachidendron ×principis Haw.

The Nomenclature of Aloe ferox Mill. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), an Iconic Medium-Sized to Large Aloe from Southern South Africa

The early nomenclature and typification of the name Aloe ferox Mill. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) is discussed and clarified. It is shown that a plate included in Munting (1727) is the lectotype of the name; we also designate an epitype. A previous neotypification of the name A. ferox was redundant.

Modulation of the enzyme activity of secretory phospholipase A2, lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase involved in inflammation and disease by extracts from some medicinal plants used for skincare and beauty

Proliferation of acute inflammation under pathological conditions makes targeting the pro-inflammatory enzymes a therapeutic intervention. The inflammation process contributes significantly to the appearance of the skin as a result of scarring and dark spots that develop. Inflammation is a normal physiological process employed to remove tissue damage due to the barrier breach of the skin. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibition and induction of enzymes associated with skin inflammation by 10 medicinal plants used traditionally for skincare and beauty in South Africa. Plants were initially examined for their total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Acetone and water extracts of the selected plants were assayed for their inhibitory activities of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), lipoxygenase (15-LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes using an inhibitor screening assay kit (Cayman Chemical, Ann Arbor, MI). The total phenolic content and flavonoid content were significantly high for Cassipourea flanaganii (Schinz) Alston. Extracts of Aloe ferox Mill and Plantago lanceolata L yielded a high content of total phenols and flavonoids, respectively. Water and acetone extracts of C. flanaganii and Chenopodium album L exhibited notable inhibitory activity against sPLA2 with IC50 values of 12.34 and 10.75 μg/mL, respectively. Water and acetone extracts of C. flanaganii exhibited moderate inhibitory activity of 15-LOX enzyme with IC50 values of 16.72 and 21.59 μg/mL, respectively. Water extracts of C. album also inhibited the activity of 15-LOX enzyme with an IC50 value of 18.99 μg/mL. Water extracts of Haemanthus albiflos Jacq, Ruta graveolens L, A. ferox, C. flanaganii and Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook.f. ex Benth had a significantly high inhibitory activity against COX-2 enzyme with IC50 values ranging from 4.23 to 6.89 μg/mL. Furthermore, acetone extracts of Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (L.) Hayek, P. lanceolata and A. ferox significantly inhibited the activity of COX-2 with IC50 values ranging from 2.69 to 4.36 μg/mL. The observed selective inhibition of COX-2 enzyme by extracts of C. flanaganii, P. lanceolata and R. nasturtium-aquaticum is significant when screening for natural inhibitors with less risk of gastro-intestinal health effects. The selective inhibition of COX-2 enzyme is beneficial in modulation of skin inflammation during pathological conditions. Therefore, extracts from these plants can be incorporated in beauty formulations intended for treatment of chronic inflammation of the skin.

The cosmetic potential of plants from the Eastern Cape Province traditionally used for skincare and beauty

Cosmetic products are directly and indirectly applied to the skin in order to enhance its beauty. Cosmetic products that are directly applied to the skin include creams, lotions and soaps while tablets and supplements are indirectly administered to achieve similar benefits. The aim of the current study was to investigate the cosmetic potential of plants from the Eastern Cape Province used traditionally for skincare and beauty by evaluating their antimicrobial activity, antioxidant potential, photo-protective effect and anti-tyrosinase activity. The antimicrobial activity of petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), 70% aqueous ethanol (v/v) and water extracts was tested against infectious skin microorganisms and skin dermatophytes. Methanolic extracts of medicinal plants were tested for their DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and their ability to delay the oxidation of β-carotene in the β-carotene linoleic acid model. Ethanol extracts of medicinal plants were tested for their photo-protective effects and anti-tyrosinase activity. Ethanol extracts of Arctotis arctotoides (L.f.) O.Hoffm and Cassipourea flanaganii (Schinz) Alston were very potent against all infectious skin microorganisms and skin dermatophytes included in the study with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values less than 1 mg/mL. Methanol extracts of C. flanaganii, Symphytum officinale L and Urtica urens L showed high antioxidant potential. Ethanol extracts from Plantago lanceolata L., C. flanaganii, Acokanthera oblongifolia (Hochst.) Codd, Ilex mitis (L.) Radlk., A. arctotoides and Aloe ferox Mill expressed moderate protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation with sun protection factor (SPF) values between 12 and 30. Furthermore, extracts from Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (L.) Hayek, Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook.f. ex Benth., S. officinale and C. flanaganii showed good anti-tyrosinase activity similar to the positive control with IC50 values between 19.64 and 22.24 μg/mL. The results from the study have shown that extracts from A. arctotoides and C. flanaganii have potential for incorporation into hygiene products such as soaps, creams and sanitizers due to their potential to combat a range of microorganisms. Furthermore, extracts from C. flanaganii, S. officinale and P. lanceolata have potential for incorporation into beauty creams and sunscreen products.

Comparative Study of Antioxidant Activity of Flower of Aloe vera and Leaf Extract of Aloe ferox

Great attention has been focused on medicinal plants and phytoconstituents due to their free radicals scavenging tendency. The present study investigates the comparative antioxidant ability of aqueous extracts of flower of Aloe vera and leaf of Aloe ferox. Antioxidant activity was assessed by using the DPPH, FRAP and ABTS+ free-radical method. The IC50 values of aqueous extracts of flower of the A. vera and leaf of A. ferox in DPPH assay were 406.04 and 517.01 µg/ml, in ABTS+ radical scavenging assay were 44.72 and 173.05 µg/ml, EC1 in FRAP assay were 0.28 and 0.51 (mg/ml) respectively. Results of the present study showed that antioxidant capacity of whole leaf of Aloe ferox Mill was significantly higher than Aloe vera flowers.

Reinstatement of Aloe candelabrum A.Berger (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a tree-like aloe of KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

Aloe candelabrum A.Berger (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae), a stately, single-stemmed species from the KwaZulu-Natal province in eastern South Africa, which had been included in the synonymy of A. ferox Mill. for some years, is reinstated. The entire distribution range of A. candelabrum falls within the Maputoland-Pondoland Region of Endemism on the eastern seaboard of South Africa. In contrast, Aloe ferox occurs widely in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, the southern Free State province, as well as southern Lesotho. It does not occur in KwaZulu-Natal.

Screening of Botanical Extracts for Repellence against Western Corn Rootworm Larvae

The ability of western corn rootworm (WCR) (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) to develop resistance to various management practices requires the development of new management options. Repellent extracts can act as efficacy enhancing agents in WCR control. The present study investigated the potential repellence of garlic (Allium sativum L.), pepper (Capsicum sp. L), cape aloe (Aloe ferox Mill.), neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) derived extracts against WCR larvae in a no-choice bioassays. In initial screenings garlic and turmeric were evaluated as the most promising extracts as WCR larvae avoided garlic / turmeric treated soil. Turmeric was further evaluated in a rhizotron set up to quantify larval distribution and behavioral changes over time. WCR larvae avoided turmeric treated soil up to 0.05 m from its application in the root system, resulting in an increased dispersal and the formation of multiple clusters in the rhizotron. The proportion of larvae actively moving in the soil subsequently increased, whereas larval feeding significantly decreased. The spatial and behavioral alterations in the soil lead to the conclusion that turmeric is a repellent extract for WCR larvae. Turmeric repellence might further be exploited for WCR management through a synergy with insecticidal substances or microbial antagonists.

In vivo diabetic wound healing effect and HPLC–DAD–ESI–MS/MS profiling of the methanol extracts of eight Aloe species

Genus Aloe, Xanthorrhoeaceae, is well distributed all over Egypt, and many species have been used as medicinal plants; mainly reported to prevent cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. This study attempts to analyze the secondary metabolites in the methanol extract of the leaves of eight Aloe species; A. vera (L.) Burm. f., A. arborescens Mill., A. eru A. Berger, A. grandidentata Salm-Dyck, A. perfoliata L., A. brevifolia Mill., A. saponaria Haw. and A. ferox Mill. growing in Egypt. For this aim HPLC–DAD–MS/MS in negative ion mode was used. Although belonging to the same genus, the composition of each species presented different particularities. Seventy one compounds were identified in the investigated Aloe species, of which cis-p-coumaric acid derivaties, 3,4-O-(E) caffeoylferuloylquinic acid and caffeoyl quinic acid hexoside were the most common phenolic acids identified. Aloeresin E and isoaloeresin D, 2′-O-feruloylaloesin were the common anthraquinones identified. Lucenin II, vicenin II, and orientin were the common identified flavonoids in the investigated Aloe species. 6′-Malonylnataloin, aloe-emodin-8-O-glucoside, flavone-6,8-di-C-glucosides could be considered as chemotaxonomic markers for the investigated Aloe species. The eight Aloe species had significant anti-inflammatory activity, in addition to the significant acceleration of diabetic wound healing in rats following topical application of the methanol extracts of their leaves. This is the first simultaneous characterization and qualitative determination of multiple phenolic compounds in Aloe species from locally grown cultivars in Egypt using HPLC–DAD–MS/MS, which can be applied to standardize the quality of different Aloe species and the future design of nutraceuticals and cosmetic preparations.

Antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities of Aloe ferox Mill

Antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities of Aloe ferox Mill