Aloe barbadensis Mill.: A review of its ethnomedicinal and ethnopharmacological properties in the management of wound healing

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.813452413069

• Palavras-chave: Produto natural, Fitoterapia, Fitomedicina, Etnofarmacologia

• Keywords: Natural product, Phytotherapy, Phytomedicine, Ethnopharmacology

• Abstract: The genus Aloe comprises a hundred species. Different extracts from aloe species have been widely reported in traditional medicine as possessing various biological activities. Aloe barbadensis Mill. (heterotypic synonym of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.) is a succulent plant popularly known as true aloe and medicinal aloe. This specie is native of the Mediterranean region, and it is now widely distributed around the world. The gel found in the leaves of the plant is commonly used  to treat wounds and burns on the skin. The main chemical compounds found in A. barbadensis are barbaloin, aloe-emodin, and acemannan (glucomannan). Acemannan, a polysaccharide, is the main bioactive compound of A. barbadensis related to wound treatments. The extracts and isolated metabolites of A. barbadensis have exhibited mainly antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This study summarizes the conventional use and pharmacological activities of A. barbadensis reported in the literature in the previous five years, mainly on wound healing.