Aloe is a genus of succulent flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae, usually called the aloes. There are over 650 species, the best-known of which is the “true aloe” Aloe vera. This and many of its relatives are used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes worldwide, and are originally native to tropical Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and islands of the Indian Ocean. Around 75% of aloe species are used medically or cosmetically.
