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The main components of leaf exudate of ''Aloe turkanensis'' are aloin A, aloin B and aloesone. From about 70 ''Aloe'' species checked, ''Aloe turkanensis'' had the highest aloin content, both in the exudate and in the leaf (31% and 6.6% of dry weight, respectively). Aloin is a mixture of the stereoisomers aloin A (barbaloin) and aloin B (isobarbaloin), and is responsible for the laxative properties.
== Botany Description ==
Succulent sprawling shrub; stem ascending, becoming decumbent, up to 70 cm long, branching from the base and forming large clumps. Leaves 14–18 in a dense rosette, erect to spreading; stipules absent; petiole absent; blade lanceolate, up to 70 cm × 9 cm, apex long-acuminate, margin with sharp deltoid teeth, 2 mm long, whitish, brown-tipped, 12–18 mm apart, blade pale bluish green with elongated white spots on both surfaces; exudate drying yellow. Inflorescence consisting of cylindrical racemes 15–26 cm long; peduncle up to 1 m long, with up to 8 branches; bracts ovate, 5–7 mm long. Flowers bisexual, regular, 3-merous; pedicel 8–10 mm long; perianth tubular, c. 2.5 cm long, lobes 6, c. 12 mm long, bright coral-pink, paler at mouth; stamens 6, exserted; ovary superior, 3-celled, style filiform, stigma head-shaped, exserted. Fruit an oblong-ovoid capsule c. 2 cm × 1 cm, dehiscing loculicidally, yellowish brown, many-seeded. Seeds blackish with whitish, sparsely black-speckled wings.
== Other botanical information == ''Aloe'' comprises about 450 species in Africa and Arabia, of which c. 315 occur in mainland Africa, c. 100 are endemic to Madagascar or the Indian Ocean islands (including the former ''Lomatophyllum'') and c. 50 occur in Arabia. ''Aloe turkanensis'' belongs to a group of East African species forming large clumps, with leaves wider than 2 cm. Several other species in this group have medicinal uses and are considered by CITES to be under threat because of the risk of overexploitation. === ''Aloe calidophila'' ===''[[Aloe calidophila]]'' Reynolds from Ethiopia and Kenya has become rare due to harvesting for medicinal purposes. === ''Aloe camperi'' ===''[[Aloe camperi]]'' Schweinf. (synonym: ''Aloe eru'' A.Berger) is one of the most important medicinal plants in Eritrea. In Egypt it is widely cultivated for its exudate. The main components of the exudate are emodin and aloenin. The exudate has significant antifungal properties. === ''Aloe elgonica'' ===''[[Aloe elgonica]]'' Bullock, from Kenya, has become vulnerable due to harvesting. The leaf exudate contains aloe-emodin, aloenin, aloesin, aloeresin B and homonataloin. === ''Aloe microdonta'' ===In Somalia the exudate of ''[[Aloe microdonta]]'' Chiov. is dissolved in water and drunk to treat jaundice. The leaf juice is applied topically to cure skin diseases. The leaf exudate contains aloin A and B, and microdontin A and B.
== Ecology ==
== Correct citation of this article ==
Bosch, C.H., 2006. '''Aloe turkanensis''' Christian. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.