Common Name:

General Information

Aloe schweinfurthii is a succulent, evergreen, perennial plant that can be stemless or with a short, decumbent stem. It forms a compact rosette of fleshy leaves with sharply toothed margins; each leaf can be up to 60cm long and 7 - 8cm wide at their base. A freely suckering plant, it forms dense clumps of growth. The flowering stem can be up to 1 metre tall[, , ].
The plant is harvested for local medicinal use. Usually collected from the wild, it is also sometimes cultivated for its medicinal uses[].
This widespread species is locally common. Direct threats to the population are not known. 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

Tropical Africa - Mali to Sudan and Uganda, south to Gabon and DR Congo.

Habitat

Rocky hillsides[]. Granite outcrops; rocky hills and slopes; gneiss slopes; among rocks; sometimes abundant; at elevations from around 900 - 1,200 metres[].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

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[].
Division of suckers.

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