Common Name:

General Information

Aloe buettneri is a perennial, succulent, evergreen plant growing from a bulb. It forms a rosette of fleshy leaves with sharply toothed margins, the leaves can be up to 60cm long and 12cm wide at their base. The flowering stem can be up to 1 metre tall[, ].
The plant is widely used for local medicinal purposes. Usually harvested from the wild, it is also occasionally cultivated for medicinal use within its native range[].

Known Hazards

The sap of Aloe species contains anthraquinones. These compounds have several beneficial medicinal actions, particularly as a laxative, and many species of Aloe are thus employed in traditional medicine. Whilst safe in small doses and for short periods of time, anthraquinones do have potential problems if used in excess. These include congestion and irritation of the pelvic organs[]. Long term use of anthraquinone laxatives may also play a role in development of colorectal cancer as they have genotoxic potential, and tumorigenic potential[].

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Cote D'Ivoire to Chad, south to Angola and northern Namibia.

Habitat

Grassy places in moist savannah[]. Grassland and woodland at elevations from 250 - 900 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position.
Aloe species follow the Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). CAM plants can fix carbon dioxide at night and photosynthesize with closed stomata during the day, thus minimizing water loss. This, plus their succulent leaves and stems, and the presence of a thick cuticle, makes them well adapted to dry conditions[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaf sap is used to treat intestinal and uro-genital problems. In Burkina Faso the dried powdered leaves are taken to treat malaria[]. A leaf decoction is drunk to cure cough[]. A decoction of the chopped whole plant is taken to treat venereal diseases and infertility in women[]. A leaf decoction is applied for treating cancer[]. Rheumatism is treated with leaf ash[].
The leaves are applied externally for all kinds of skin trouble: burns, wounds, insect bites, Guinea worm sores and vitiligo[].

The roots are used as a treatment for malaria[]. Throughout West Africa, decoctions of the bulbs and roots are taken to cure liver problems, especially jaundice[].

Decoctions of leaves, roots and whole plants are taken as a laxative, to treat stomach-ache and to get rid of internal parasites[].

The distinctive constituents in Aloe leaves are phenolic compounds, including chromone, anthraquinone or anthrone derivatives. Some of the compounds are found in many species, whereas others occur in only a few[].
The methanol extract of the dried leaf exudate has shown significant in-vivo activity against helminthiasis caused by Nippostrongylus spp[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no specific information on this species - in general Aloes are sown in a sandy, well-drained potting soil in a warm, shady position in standard seed trays. Germination takes about three weeks. Cover the seed with a thin layer of sand (1 - 2mm), keep moist. The seedlings can be planted out in individual bags or containers as soon as they are large enough to handle[].

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