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The methanol extract of the dried leaf exudate of ''Aloe buettneri'' or the related ''Aloe schweinfurthii'' Baker showed significant in-vivo activity against helminthiasis caused by ''Nippostrongylus'' sp. in rats.
== Botany Description ==
Succulent perennial herb up to 80 cm tall, without stem, usually solitary, rarely suckering, with a bulb. Leaves about 16 in a rosette, erect to spreading; stipules absent; petiole absent; blade triangular, 30–50 cm × 10 cm, apex acuminate, margin hard and tough, with firm white to pale pink sharp teeth 3–4 mm long, 1–1.5 cm apart, blade with scattered whitish spots. Inflorescence consisting of cylindrical-conical to almost head-like racemes 15 cm × 7 cm, peduncle 70–90 cm long, with 3–5 branches; bracts deltoid-acute or lanceolate-acuminate, 10–15 mm × 6–8 mm. Flowers bisexual, regular, 3-merous; pedicel 2–2.5 cm long; perianth tubular, up to 4 cm × 1 cm, inflated around the ovary, lobes 6, c. 12 mm long, greenish yellow to dull red; stamens 6, slightly exserted; ovary superior, 3-celled, style filiform, stigma head-shaped, exserted. Fruit an ovoid capsule up to 4 cm long, dehiscing loculicidally, many-seeded.
== 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.
In West Africa 3 indigenous ''Aloe'' species are distinguished: ''Aloe buettneri'', ''Aloe schweinfurthii'' Baker and ''Aloe macrocarpa'' Tod. The name ''Aloe barteri'' Baker has long been used as a name for all West African ''Aloe'', but the name was based on a mixture of plant parts of ''Aloe buettneri'' and ''Aloe schweinfurthii''. == ''Aloe schweinfurthii'' ==In West Africa, the distribution of ''[[Aloe schweinfurthii]]'' largely overlaps with that of ''Aloe buettneri'', but the former species also occurs in DR Congo, Sudan and Uganda. ''Aloe schweinfurthii'' differs from ''Aloe buettneri'' in lacking a bulb, its smaller fruits and the presence of suckers. ''Aloe schweinfurthii'' is cultivated locally for its medicinal uses. It has the same uses as ''Aloe buettneri''. == ''Aloe macrocarpa'' ==''[[Aloe macrocarpa]]'' is widely distributed in West Africa and extends east to Eritrea and Djibouti. In Eritrea the leaf exudate is used medicinally and the plant is planted on contours for soil conservation. In West Africa the flowers are eaten as a vegetable. == ''Aloe congolensis'' ==In western DR Congo the leaf sap of ''[[Aloe congolensis]]'' De Wild. & T.Durand is traditionally used to cure sores, wounds, burns, pain in the joints, inflammation of the breast and as a laxative, whereas dried and powdered leaves are said to prevent cancer of the colon and rectum. ''Aloe congolensis'' appears closely related to ''Aloe buettneri'' and is possibly synonymous.
== Ecology ==
== Correct citation of this article ==
Bosch, C.H., 2006. '''Aloe buettneri''' A.Berger. [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}}.