Aloe vera: A review of toxicity and adverse clinical effects

ABSTRACT

The Aloe plant is employed as a dietary supplement in a variety of foods and as an ingredient in cosmetic products. The widespread human exposure and its potential toxic and carcinogenic activities raise safety concerns. Chemical analysis reveals that the Aloe plant contains various polysaccharides and phenolic chemicals, notably anthraquinones. Ingestion of Aloe preparations is associated with diarrhea, hypokalemia, pseudomelanosis coli, kidney failure, as well as phototoxicity and hypersensitive reactions. Recently, Aloe vera whole leaf extract showed clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in rats, and was classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B). This review presents updated information on the toxicological effects, including the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and adverse clinical effects of Aloe vera whole leaf extract, gel, and latex.

KEYWORDS:

• Aloe gel
• aloe latex
• Aloe vera
• carcinogenicity
• genotoxicity
• toxicological effects

Acknowledgments

We thank Drs. Robert H. Heflich, Page B. McKinzie, and Vasily N. Dobrovolsky for their helpful suggestions and comments. The information in these materials is not a formal dissemination of information by the US Food and Drug Administration and does not represent agency position or policy.