Aloe vera
Summary of Aloe vera
Primary Information, Benefits, Effects, and Important Facts
Aloe vera is a herb traditionally used to ease digestion as a folk remedy, and to alleviate pain from burns when used topically. It has recently gained popularity as an anti-obesity agent.
Preliminary studies show benefit with aloe vera in controlling weight, but the mechanisms do not seem as potent as other anti-obesity supplements. Aloe vera is also a generally healthy compound, but has been implicated in multiple cases of liver problems (which are not too common, although resurgent) and has a lower toxicity threshold than other herbal supplements.
Tired of all the misinformation spread by supplement companies?
Learn what works, what's a waste, and how to achieve your health goals with our free supplement mini-course.
Things To Know & Note
Is a Form Of
Other Functions:
Primary Function:
Also Known As
Aloe Barbadensis
Caution Notice
Examine.com Medical DisclaimerHow to Take Aloe vera
Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details
The only human study on aloe vera used 300 mg twice daily. There is no evidence to suggest whether this is the best dose, but benefit was seen at this dosage.
Human Effect Matrix
The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies (it excludes animal and in vitro studies) to tell you what effects aloe vera has on your body, and how strong these effects are.
| Grade | Level of Evidence [show legend] |
|---|---|
|
Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials |
|
Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled |
|
Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies |
|
Uncontrolled or observational studies only |
|
Level of Evidence
?
The amount of high quality evidence. The more
evidence, the more we can trust the results.
|
Outcome |
Magnitude of effect
?
The direction and size of the supplement's impact on
each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.
|
Consistency of research results
?
Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or
VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
|
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Minor
|
Very High See 2 studies |
Appears to be more effective than control, but less effective than the reference drug of 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide
|
Scientific Research on Aloe vera
Click on any below to expand the corresponding section. Click on to collapse it.
Click here to fully expand all sections or here to fully collapse them.
References
- ^ a b c d e Vinson JA, Al Kharrat H, Andreoli L. Effect of Aloe vera preparations on the human bioavailability of vitamins C and E. Phytomedicine. (2005)
- ^ a b Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final report on the safety assessment of AloeAndongensis Extract, Aloe Andongensis Leaf Juice,aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract, Aloe Arborescens Leaf Juice, Aloe Arborescens Leaf Protoplasts, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice,aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Aloe Ferox Leaf Juice, and Aloe Ferox Leaf Juice Extract. Int J Toxicol. (2007)
- ^ Isolation and purification of aloe anthraquinones based on an ionic liquid/salt aqueous two-phase system.
- ^ Nema NK, et al. Determination of trace and heavy metals in some commonly used medicinal herbs in Ayurveda. Toxicol Ind Health. (2012)
- ^ Coopoosamy RM, Naidoo KK. A Comparative Study of Three Aloe Species Used to Treat Skin Diseases in South African Rural Communities. J Altern Complement Med. (2012)
- ^ a b c Fanali S, et al. Analysis of Aloe-based phytotherapeutic products by using nano-LC-MS. J Sep Sci. (2010)
- ^ Kuzuya H, et al. Determination of aloenin, barbaloin and isobarbaloin in aloe species by micellar electrokinetic chromatography. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl. (2001)
- ^ Locatelli M. Anthraquinones: analytical techniques as a novel tool to investigate on the triggering of biological targets. Curr Drug Targets. (2011)
- ^ a b Pugh N, et al. Characterization of Aloeride, a new high-molecular-weight polysaccharide from Aloe vera with potent immunostimulatory activity. J Agric Food Chem. (2001)
- ^ Rodríguez Rodríguez E, Darias Martín J, Díaz Romero C. Aloe vera as a functional ingredient in foods. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. (2010)
- ^ a b c Shin E, et al. Dietary Aloe Reduces Adipogenesis via the Activation of AMPK and Suppresses Obesity-related Inflammation in Obese Mice. Immune Netw. (2011)
- ^ Yagi A, et al. Antioxidant, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects of aloesin derivatives in Aloe vera. Planta Med. (2002)
- ^ Relative efficacy of three medicinal plant extracts in the alteration of thyroid hormone concentrations in male mice.
- ^ Bhalang K, Thunyakitpisal P, Rungsirisatean N. Acemannan, a Polysaccharide Extracted from Aloe vera, Is Effective in the Treatment of Oral Aphthous Ulceration. J Altern Complement Med. (2012)
- ^ Babaee N, et al. Evaluation of the therapeutic effects of Aloe vera gel on minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Dent Res J (Isfahan). (2012)
- ^ a b Saito M, et al. Aloe vera Gel Extract Attenuates Ethanol-Induced Hepatic Lipid Accumulation by Suppressing the Expression of Lipogenic Genes in Mice. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. (2012)
- ^ Bottenberg MM, et al. Oral aloe vera-induced hepatitis. Ann Pharmacother. (2007)
- ^ Yang HN, et al. Aloe-induced toxic hepatitis. J Korean Med Sci. (2010)
- ^ Jiménez-Encarnación E, et al. Euforia-induced acute hepatitis in a patient with scleroderma. BMJ Case Rep. (2012)