The present study showed high level of radical scavenging activity by ethanol and methanol whole leaf extracts of A. ferox with higher antioxidant activities than acetone and aqueous extracts. The significant differences show that the whole leaf extract could be used as a potent antioxidant in medicine and food industries.

The present study showed high level of radical scavenging activity by ethanol and methanol whole leaf extracts of A. ferox with higher antioxidant activities than acetone and aqueous extracts. The significant differences show that the whole leaf extract could be used as a potent antioxidant in medicine and food industries.

Aloe ferox. Mill. is one of the plants used for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Different extracts of the plant were investigated for their antimicrobial constituents. This led to the isolation of three known compounds, namely, 1,8-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthracenedione (1, aloe-emodin), 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-9,10-anthracenedione (2, chrysophanol), and 10-C.-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1,8-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-9-anthracenone (3, aloin A). The structures of the compounds were determined by chemical and spectroscopic studies. The antibacterial activity of the compounds (1–3) was demonstrated using the microplate dilution method.

Here we report that aloe-emodin (AE), a hydroxyanthraquinone present in Aloe vera leaves, has a specific in vitro and in vivo antineuroectodermal tumor activity. The growth of human neuroectodermal tumors is inhibited in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency without any appreciable toxic effects on the animals. The compound does not inhibit the proliferation of normal fibroblasts nor that of hemopoietic progenitor cells.

Aloe ferox has been used in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antitumor, laxative and to heal wounds and burns. The effects of the oral administration of A. ferox resin (10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) were evaluated on intestinal transit in mice and its acute toxicity (5.0 g/kg) in Wistar rats.

Aloe ferox Mill. (= A. candelabrum A. Berger), commonly known as the bitter aloe or Cape aloe, is a polymorphic species indigenous to South Africa. The plant has been used since ancient times as a generic chemopreventive and anti-tumour remedy in folk medicine and it has a well-documented history of use as a laxative. In addition to the plethora of traditional medicinal uses, A. ferox has recently gained popularity as an ingredient in cosmetic formulations and food supplements. Anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antimalarial activities, etc. have been reported.

Three RCTs with a total of 151 patients with IBS were included. The meta-analysis showed a significant difference for patients with AV compared to those with placebo regarding improvement in IBS symptom score (standardized mean difference, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.07–0.75; P = 0.020). Using intention-to-treat analysis, the AV patients showed significantly better response rates of IBS symptoms compared to placebo (pooled risk ratio, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.05–2.73; P = 0.030). No adverse events related with AV were found in included studies. There was no significant heterogeneity of effects across studies (P = 0.900; I2 = 0%).