Phytochemical studies on some aloe species of the saponariae group.

Abstract

The taxa Aloe with its more than 350 species are widely distributed in Tropical Africa. They have found wide recognition for their cosmetic and medicinal uses. The taxonomic irregularities and the inadequacy of phytochemical information in many of these plants have attracted our attention. During our phytochemical survey of the Saponariae group of Aloe, using chromatographic techniques more than twenty distinct compounds were detected. Eight of these were isolated from the subterranean stems of Aloe graminicola. The compounds isolated were found to be mainly anthraquinones. One of these was isolated for the first time in nature and the name aloegramonol