Medicinal uses of aloe vera in the Isla Altagracia community of the Jiménez municipality

Abstract

Aloe vera, Aloe vera L., is a plant native to the African continent, introduced to America at the beginning of the 14th century during colonial times. It belongs to the Asphodelaceae family of the Aloe genus, which includes more than 400 species. The leaves reach 80 centimeters in height; They are lanceolate, succulent, with a spiny margin and a grayish green color. They have a transparent and viscous pulp, while the flowers are campanulate and arranged in a terminal spike. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule; It has a bitter and odorous substance called acíbaro aloe, with wide medicinal use (Moreno, 2012).