Aloe saponaria

Aloe marlothii Berger [inhlaba lenkhulu, mountain aloe] (Asphodelaceae) leaves are for cardiac problems. The leaf contains alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, polyphenols, saponins, steroids and tannins (75). Concoction of the leaves of Aloe arborescens Mill [inhlaba lencane, krans aloe] and Aloe saponaria Ussn.[lihala, soap aloe] is also used for cardiac problems (72). 

Both carminic aid and kermesic acid are members of the polyhydroxyquinone series which are mostly based on 1-methyl-3,6,8-trihydroxyantraquinone (deoxyerythrolaccin) (ref. 192) and have been termed the lac pigments. The natural occurrence of these compounds was considered to be only in coccid insects until they were isolated later from higher plants such as Aloe saponaria Haw (ref. 193). 

Emodin (11) and helminthosporin (9) (Fig. 6,1) (see also Chapter 5) are derived from acetate-malonate precursors. An enzyme that provides strict substrate control, emodin 1-0-methyltransferase, was purified 89-fold (Hutchinson, 1986). Chrysophanol (57), found in Rumex (Polygonaceae) and Rhamnus (Rhamnaceae) species, appears to result from folding of the polyketide chain in one arrangement (58), whereas aloesaponarin (59) seems to involve a second form (60) (Fig. 6.13). Both chrysophanol and aloesaponarin occur in the roots of Aloe saponaria (Liliaceae) (Leistner, 1981). Under special conditions, callus cultures of Rhamnus species... 

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