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The distinctive constituents in ''Aloe'' are phenolic compounds, notably chromone, anthraquinone or anthrone derivatives. The exudate of ''Aloe flexilifolia'' is known to be caustic, and is rich in aloin. Aloin is the active ingredient and has purgative properties. Other compounds of interest for their medicinal activity in this and other ''Aloe'' species are the polysaccharides contained in the gel from the core of the leaves, and lectins found in several plant parts.
== Botany Description ==
Succulent perennial shrub; stem stout, erect and up to 1 m tall or slender, pendulous and up to 2 m long, much branched from the base forming large clumps. Leaves laxly crowded at top of branches, hanging down; stipules absent; petiole absent; blade narrowly lanceolate, up to 50 cm × 7 cm, apex long-acuminate, margin hard and tough, with pale brown sharp teeth 1–2 mm long, 1–2 cm apart, blade pale bluish green with a few white spots when young; exudate drying brown. Inflorescence consisting of erect, cylindrical racemes, 10–15(–30) cm × 8 cm, densely flowered; peduncle horizontal to down-curved, 50–65 cm long, with 6–8 branches, lowest branches occasionally rebranched; bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5–6 mm long. Flowers bisexual, regular, 3-merous; pedicel 12–18 mm long; perianth tubular, up to 3.5 cm long × c. 8 mm, lobes 6, 10–12 mm long, bright red or brownish red, sometimes yellow; stamens 6, exserted; ovary superior, 3-celled, style filiform, stigma head-shaped, exserted. Fruit unknown.
== 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 flexilifolia'' belongs to a group of species with decumbent, sprawling or pendulous stems. Several other East African species in this group have medicinal uses. === ''Aloe carolineae'' ===The leaf sap of ''[[Aloe carolineae]]'' L.E.Newton is used in Kenya to cure eye disorders. === ''Aloe pulcherrima'' ===''[[Aloe pulcherrima]]'' M.G.Gilbert & Sebsebe, which is endemic to central Ethiopia, is used medicinally and has become scarce in the wild due to harvesting, but is increasingly cultivated in gardens. === ''Aloe scabrifolia'' ===According to CITES, ''[[Aloe scabrifolia]]'' L.E.Newton & Lavranos from Kenya is threatened as a result of overexploitation for medicinal use and exudate extraction; the leaf exudate is brown and contains much aloin A. === ''Aloe wilsonii'' ===The So people of Uganda use the exudate of ''[[Aloe wilsonii]]'' Reynolds from north-western Kenya and north-eastern Uganda externally to cure eye infections, headache and body pains, while an infusion of the whole plant is taken as an emetic; pounded roots and leaves are applied to aching teeth. The leaf exudate is yellow and turns brownish when drying.
== Ecology ==
== Correct citation of this article ==
Bosch, C.H., 2006. '''Aloe flexilifolia''' 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}}.
