Aloe vera (AV) is a multi-benefit plant well known for diverse applications due to its unique gel. This gel contains high-quality oil used to produce a high range of phytochemical products where the quantity and quality depend to stress factors including climatic variables. This study presents a review of AV components and the impact of stress factors including climate change (CC) through a bibliometric analysis. For the trend, research on this plant, its products, and CC tends towards the chemistry aspect and the use of scanning electron microscopy, phytotherapy, metabolism, and CC. Thus, CC was highlighted as a trending topic but not well explored. The topic of CC was well mentioned but the majority of research efforts explored it partially or generally. The results showed that temperature and precipitation are the most important climatic variables that affect the aloe species. However, water and saline stress increases the quality of the gel and reduces the growth and leaf yield.
TopIntroduction
Aloe vera is a succulent plant with many benefits that are found in many zones throughout the world. It grows in subtropical and arid climates and is used for its medicinal properties to treat minor cuts, gastrointestinal problems, burn wounds, and genital herpes (Lanka, 2018). Regarding health applications, many minerals and biological substances such as vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and enzymes are concentrated in the plant leaves and the associated gel. These substances have excellent biological activities such as hypoglycemic or antidiabetic effects and immunomodulatory and gastroprotective properties (Hamman, 2008), skin elasticity (Tanaka et al., 2016), antiviral (Kahlon et al., 1991), anti-bacterial, antifungal, antioxidant (Hęś et al., 2019), and anti-inflammatory (Talmadge et al., 2004) activities, etc.
Aloe vera is well known for the diverse applications of its gel. This gel contains a high-quality oil used to produce a high range of cosmetics, food supplements, and hygiene products. In addition, it plays a socio-economic role due to its importance in job creation in agronomic and industrial processes. It is a promising succulent plant that may support the economic development of the subtropical and arid zones. In fact, aloe species have significant commercial value for use in poverty reduction and rural development (Grace, 2011).
Aloe vera is a succulent plant belonging to the Asphodelaceae family and genus Aloe. It is native to North and East Africa for over five millenniums and can be exploited according to several disciplines: biochemical, chemical, pharmacology, economic, and horticultural (Chinchilla et al., 2013). Due to its strong adaptability, it can be found or cultivated throughout the world. Historically, Greek scientists considered it the universal panacea while Egyptians give it the name, the “plant of immortality” (Surjushe et al., 2008).
It is an evergreen perennial rooted and xerophytic plant with triangular green leaves and yellow tubular flowers that grows mainly in subtropical and arid zones. Due to its ecologic, economic importance, and medical propriety, Aloe vera has been cultivated in several countries, including India, Haiti, and the United States. Concerning aloe vera uses, the most successful companies of aloe vera are located in the United States. Aloe vera gel (extracted fresh juice) became widely known for its uses in cosmetics (moisturizing), hygiene (as a shampoo and soap), and supplement products (vitamins and minerals). Skin lotion, food supplements, soaps, and toothpaste…are some of the most well-known products derived from this juice. It is considered a miraculous plant by Chinchilla et al., (2013) but it may face threats as a result of changes in climatic parameters such as temperature and precipitation that will impact the spatial distribution and the growth. The aloe vera growth, productivity, and geographical distribution are affected by several climatic and environmental factors such as temperature Kumar et al., (2017a), rainfall and groundwater level (Manvith & Bidya, 2014), water stress (Hazrati et al., 2017), and saline stress (Mota-Ituarte et al., 2023; Murillo-Amador et al., 2015). At the molecular level, it was demonstrated that the diversity of the plant's phytochemicals and its capacity as an antioxidant are influenced by various agro-climatic circumstances (Kumar et al., 2017b). In a study conducted by Mkala et al., (2022) it was reported that the current distribution of three species namely Aloe ballyi Reynolds, A. classenii Reynolds, and A. penduliflora Baker has been significantly impacted by precipitation, temperature, and some environmental factors, such as land cover, soil sedimentation, and solar radiation. For plants, generally, the variation of temperature and wind (linked to CC) has an effect on precipitation and thereby plant architecture, flowering, fruiting, and phytochemical components (Kumar et al., 2017a).