Description: A.sisalana is a perennial herb with rigid, sword-like rosette leaves with a sharp tip, yellowish-green flowers, and fruits in the form of oblong capsules containing black seeds. The plant is native to Mexico and naturalised in South Africa, where it is regarded as an invasive alien plant.   

Uses:

• The plant is fermented and distilled to make a traditional alcoholic drink in Mexico, known as mezcal.
• The plant is used to treat pulmonary infections such as asthma, chest pains, and tuberculosis. To treat asthma, the shoots are boiled in water and the decoction added to a small cup with a little brandy.
• The plant is used to treat liver diseases (jaundice) and heart disease. To treat jaundice, a decoction that is taken orally is made by boiling the bud in saline water.  
• The roots are used to lower blood pressure. The roots are used to make a decoction that is taken orally. 
• The leaves are taken as a laxative and to treat stomach and intestine problems. To treat stomach and intestinal problems, dried leave are boiled and the decoction taken in a small cup.
• The juice from the leaves is taken to treat skin and scalp ailments.
• The juice from the leaves are used to treat syphilis. 
• The sap is used as an antiseptic and antibacterial and fungicide agent.
• The plant is used as soap or soap substitute. 
• The plant is used as a source of fibre for weaving bags, mats, ropes, and twines.
• The fibre is also used to make tufts women on the upper arms and legs that are worn as traditional dance attire. 
• The plant can be used to yield both the needle (from the tip of the leaf) and thread.
• The plant is a garden ornamental. 

Reference and further reading:

• Chand, N., Tiwary, R.K. and Rohatgi, P.K., 1988. Bibliography resource structure properties of natural cellulosic fibres—an annotated bibliography. Journal of Materials Science, 23, pp.381-387.
• Debnath, M., Pandey, M., Sharma, R., Thakur, G.S. and Lal, P., 2010. Biotechnological intervention of Agave sisalana: a unique fiber yielding plant with medicinal property. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 4(3), pp.177-187.
• Eldridge, J., 1975. Bush medicine in the Exumas and long island, bahamas a field study. Economic Botany, 29(4), pp.307-332.
• El-Hilaly, J., Hmammouchi, M. and Lyoussi, B., 2003. Ethnobotanical studies and economic evaluation of medicinal plants in Taounate province (Northern Morocco). Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 86(2-3), pp.149-158.
• Hedrick, U.P.E., 1972. Sturtevant’s edible plants of the world.Dover Publications.
• Long, C., 2005. SiSwati names and uses – Swaziland Flora – Swaziland National Trust Commission, Mbabane. http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/clbotalpha.asp?l=d
• Nobel, P.S.,1994. Remarkable Agaves and cacti. Oxford University Press.
• Shabangu, T.P., 2021. A comparative study of Swazi and Zulu traditional plant use at Mkhondo and eDumbe, South Africa. University of Johannesburg (South Africa).
• Tewari, D., Tripathi, Y.C. and Anjum, N., 2014. Agave sisalana: a plant with high chemical diversity and medicinal importance. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 3(8), pp.238-249.