Aloe Vera is a nutritional storehouse, containing vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, niacinamide, choline, and 18 amino acids, in addition to many other nutritional substances. Aloe Vera juice is an ingredient in many commercial topical creams, lotions and shampoos. Many Aloe Vera juices can also be taken internally with juice or water as an addition to the diet.

Aloe, a popular houseplant, has a long history as a multipurpose folk remedy. Commonly known as Aloe Vera, the plant can be separated into two basic products: gel and latex. Aloe Vera gel is the leaf pulp or mucilage, a thin clear jelly-like substance obtained from the parenchymal tissue that makes up the inner portion of the leaves . The gel contains carbohydrate polymers, such as glucomannans or pectic acid, plus various other organic and inorganic compounds. Aloe latex, commonly referred to as "aloe juice," is a bitter yellow exudate from the pericyclic tubules just beneath the outer skin of the leaves. For pharmaceutical use as a laxative, the juice is often dried to produce "aloe" granules that are dark brown from exposure to air. The terms "gel" and "juice" are not clearly defined by manufacturers and often are confused by consumers.

Aloe gel has been used for topical treatment of wounds, minor burns, and skin irritations. American consumers are most familiar with aloe's use in skin-care products, but aloe can also be used as a beverage. Aloe products for internal use have been promoted for constipation, coughs, wounds, ulcers, diabetes, cancer, headaches, arthritis, immune-system deficiencies, and many other conditions. However, the only substantiated internal use is as a laxative. The anthroquinones and anthrones in the aloe latex probably produce their laxative effect by increasing colonic peristalsis and increasing the intestinal water content by opening chloride channels of the colonic membrane to cause a net reduction of liquid absorption by the colon. The anthroquinone glycosides reach the colon mostly undigested, although some are metabolized by enzymes produced by intestinal bacteria. The result includes more frequent stools with softer consistency. In most of the studies on the laxative effects of aloe, the aloe was not used alone but in combination with other laxatives, such as celandin or psyllium. Aloe's side effects can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and electrolyte imbalances, especially at higher doses.

One study of 5,000 subjects found a positive effect of lowering risk factors in patients with heart disease. The study showed that by adding Isabgol (which increases the bulk of feces) and Aloe Vera gel to the diet, there was a marked reduction in total lipids, total serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, fasting and post-meal blood sugar levels in diabetics, and an increase in HDL. Our January 1998 MEDLINE search found no other studies on blood lipids, heart disease risk, and aloe. Some research has shown decreasing fasting blood sugar in diabetic animals given aloe. Further studies are needed to explore these issues in humans.

False advertising claims for aloe are common, especially on the Internet. Some Web pages are making bold claims and using testimonials promoting it for treating the AIDS virus, arthritis, or other chronic and debilitating conditions. These claims have not been substantiated by scientific studies.

During the end of the seventies Aloe Vera gel became very popular in the USA as a moisturizing ingredient in cosmetics and its popularity has grown to such an unprecedented extent that it is now the most widely used ingredient in skin care products and can be found on the ingredient list of virtually all cosmetic products. Even dog or cat creams contain Aloe and you can now buy tissues impregnated with Aloe.

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