The New Straits Times, October 9, 1995
Q: DO drinks containing aloe vera have special nutritional value?
Are there any known side-effects or contraindications to the use of these products?
A: Aloe vera is one of more than 200 species of aloe plants that have been identified and classified according to various systems of nomenclature.
Over one million gallons of aloe-containing lotions, cosmetics and drinks are sold annually in the United States and aloe vera is the species most commonly used in these products.
In Malaysia, one can easily find them in sundry shops, retailers, supermarkets, Chinese medicine halls and pharmacies.
Lately, numerous direct selling aloe-containing products are penetrating the home market with sales especially targeted at women.
Aloe is the solid residue obtained by evaporating the bitter yellow latex that drains from the pericyclic cells beneath the skin of the leaf of the aloe vera plant.
The latex material contains barbaloin and other anthraquinone glycosides which are used for their laxative properties.
Another substance, aloe gel, is a clear gelatinous material obtained from the mucilaginous cells found in the inner portion of the leaf.
This gel has no laxative properties and is the ingredient found in aloe drinks and cosmetics.
It has been promoted for the treatment of a variety of ailments including sunburn, stretch marks and scares, acne, asthma, arthritis and cancer.
In addition, proponents of its use suggest that healthy individuals should ingest aloe juice or gel daily to increase energy, promote digestion and prevent the development of disease. A number of constituents found in aloe have been identified. They include mono- and polysaccharides, tannins steroidal compounds, various organic acids and enzymes saponin, vitamins, and minerals such as iron, copper, calcium, manganese, sodium and potassium.
Although most of the these constituents can be said to have nutritional value, there is no reason to believe that aloe gel has any special properties or activities beyond those found in common fruit or vegetable juices.
A search of the literature revealed no evidence to substantiate claims that aloe gel increases energy, prevents disease, or has curative properties.
Well-documented reports of adverse reaction to aloe vera are obscure.
Laxative products derived from aloe latex are known to produce gastrointestinal cramping and occasional allergic reactions.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis has occurred following the ingestion of aloin, a crystalline substance extracted from aloe.
Similar allergic reactions can be expected to occur with aloe gel, which contains trace amounts of anthraquinone components.
However, the paucity of reports on adverse reactions to drinks containing aloe gel suggests that they are relatively safe.
