Aloe Purpurea

Aloe purpurea (Xanthorrhoeaceae) is a threatened species endemic to Mauritius Islands. Leaf parts are used in folk medicine to treat minor ailments and are used as an antispasmodic. The antimicrobial, antioxidant, and wound healing attributes of A. purpurea have been tested and have been linked to the presence of many bioactive compounds including flavonoids and anthraquinones. A. purpurea methanolic leaf extracts have also been shown to exhibit neuroprotective abilities and are not cytotoxic. The chloroplast genes and ITS regions of A. purpurea have been sequenced to establish the genomic profile of this species. A. purpurea has been micropropagated using tissue culture techniques and in vitro regenerated plants have been reintroduced in several regions of the Island. The botanical, phytochemical, and bioactive profiles of A. purpurea have been documented in this chapter.