Common Name:

General Information

Aloe camperi is an evergreen, succulent, perennial plant producing rosettes of leaves up to 60cm in diameter on stems that can be 30cm long[]. The leaves are up to 60cm long and 15cm wide at the base[]. The plant suckers to form clumps of stems.
This is one of the most important medicinal plants in Eritrea, commonly harvested from the wild for local use[]. It is commonly cultivated for medicinal purposes in Egypt, and is also grown as an ornamental[, ].
A widespread species and locally abundant. There are no known threats posing a risk to the population and the population is actually increasing. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

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

East tropical Africa - Eritrea, northern Ethiopia.

Habitat

Rocky slopes and sandy alluvial plains at elevations from 550 - 2,700 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.75 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can tolerate occasional temperatures down to around -2°c, so long as conditions are fairly dry[].
Succeeds in full sun to light shade[]. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant[].
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

This species is said to be one of the most important medicinal plants in Eritrea, although we have very ittle information on its usage. It is likely to be used in ways similar to Aloe vera, where the gel is used to treat a wide range of skin conditions and the bitters from the sap exudate is used as a laxative.

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 main components of the exudate are emodin and aloenin[].
The exudate has significant antifungal properties[].

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[].
Suckers

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