Most of the research on Al has been dedicated to exploration of its toxicity at high levels, as well as the mechanisms by which plants and animals are able to tolerate these elevated Al levels in the environment. Humans have caused an increase in Al in acidic soils through processes like mining and acid precipitation (Pilon-Smits et al., 2009).

Al can cause toxicity in plants by inhibiting root growth, but it has been found to be a beneficial element to particular plant species at a low concentration. In Miscanthus sinensis and other plants native to acidic soils, the presence of Al is associated with increased growth that frequently coincides with enhanced leaf P concentrations (Osaki et al., 1996). In Camellia sinensis, the presence of Al is instead associated with increased antioxidant enzyme activity, which may also be correlated with increased growth (Mukhopadyay et al., 2012). Melastoma malabathricum actually accumulates Al actively, leading to improved root and shoot growth as well as a reduction of Fe toxicity (Watanabe et al., 2005). The question of whether Al is required for this species or simply beneficial is still debated in the literature.