Aloe vera extract
Common name
aloe, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant’s gall, aloes
ID
HD0002
Scientific name of the plant
Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis
Anatomical part for use
above-ground part
Human use
Gastrointestinal disorders
Summary
Aloe vera ( or ) is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. Having some 500 species, Aloe is widely distributed, and is considered an invasive species in many world regions.An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world. It is cultivated for commercial products, mainly as a topical treatment used over centuries. The species is attractive for decorative purposes, and succeeds indoors as a potted plant.It is used in many consumer products, including beverages, skin lotion, cosmetics, ointments or in the form of gel for minor burns and sunburns. There is little clinical evidence for the effectiveness or safety of Aloe vera extract as a cosmetic or topical drug. The name derives from Latin as aloe and vera ("truth"). (Source: Wiki)
Evidence Level
Level 4 (Individual reports repeated observed over 5 years among different countries)
Hepatotoxicity reports in literature
- Acute hepatitis induced by an Aloe vera preparation: a case report : (Source)
- Aloe vera-induced acute toxic hepatitis in a healthy young man : (Source)
- Oral aloe vera-induced hepatitis : (Source)
- [Severe acute hepatitis associated with intake of Aloe vera tea] : (Source)
- Aloe-induced toxic hepatitis : (Source)
- Acute toxic hepatitis caused by an aloe vera preparation in a young patient: a case report with a literature review : (Source)
- Aloe vera-induced acute liver injury: A case report and literature review : (Source)
Hepatotoxicity Description
Liver injury attributable to oral preparations of aloe vera was first reported in 2005 and at least a dozen cases of clinically apparent liver injury have been published or mentioned in the literature. The injury typically arises between 3 and 24 weeks after starting oral aloe vera, usually provided in high doses to treat constipation, dyspepsia, aging, weight loss or to improve wellness. The typical pattern of injury is hepatocellular and the clinical course resembles acute viral hepatitis (Case 1). Immunoallergic and autoimmune features are rare. Liver biopsy shows changes typical of hepatitis with spotty cell injury and lobular and portal inflammation. The injury is rarely severe and fatal cases have not been reported. (Source: LiverTox)
Uses
Two substances from Aloe vera – a clear gel and its yellow latex – are used to manufacture commercial products. Aloe gel typically is used to make topical medications for skin conditions, such as burns, wounds, frostbite, rashes, psoriasis, cold sores, or dry skin. Aloe latex is used individually or manufactured as a product with other ingredients to be ingested for relief of constipation. Aloe latex may be obtained in a dried form called resin or as "aloe dried juice". (Source: Wiki)
Topical medication and potential side effects
Aloe vera may be prepared as a lotion, gel, soap or cosmetics product for use on skin as a topical medication. For people with allergies to Aloe vera, skin reactions may include contact dermatitis with mild redness and itching, difficulty with breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. (Source: Wiki)
Traditional medicine
Aloe vera is used in traditional medicine as a skin treatment. Early records of its use appear from the fourth millennium BCE. It is also written of in the Juliana Anicia Codex of 512 CE. (Source: Wiki)
Common name
aloe, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant’s gall, aloes
ID
HD0002
Scientific name of the plant
Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis
Anatomical part for use
above-ground part
Human use
Gastrointestinal disorders
Summary
Aloe vera ( or ) is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. Having some 500 species, Aloe is widely distributed, and is considered an invasive species in many world regions.An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in tropical, semi-tropical, and arid climates around the world. It is cultivated for commercial products, mainly as a topical treatment used over centuries. The species is attractive for decorative purposes, and succeeds indoors as a potted plant.It is used in many consumer products, including beverages, skin lotion, cosmetics, ointments or in the form of gel for minor burns and sunburns. There is little clinical evidence for the effectiveness or safety of Aloe vera extract as a cosmetic or topical drug. The name derives from Latin as aloe and vera ("truth"). (Source: Wiki)
Evidence Level
Level 4 (Individual reports repeated observed over 5 years among different countries)
Hepatotoxicity reports in literature
- Acute hepatitis induced by an Aloe vera preparation: a case report : (Source)
- Aloe vera-induced acute toxic hepatitis in a healthy young man : (Source)
- Oral aloe vera-induced hepatitis : (Source)
- [Severe acute hepatitis associated with intake of Aloe vera tea] : (Source)
- Aloe-induced toxic hepatitis : (Source)
- Acute toxic hepatitis caused by an aloe vera preparation in a young patient: a case report with a literature review : (Source)
- Aloe vera-induced acute liver injury: A case report and literature review : (Source)
Hepatotoxicity Description
Liver injury attributable to oral preparations of aloe vera was first reported in 2005 and at least a dozen cases of clinically apparent liver injury have been published or mentioned in the literature. The injury typically arises between 3 and 24 weeks after starting oral aloe vera, usually provided in high doses to treat constipation, dyspepsia, aging, weight loss or to improve wellness. The typical pattern of injury is hepatocellular and the clinical course resembles acute viral hepatitis (Case 1). Immunoallergic and autoimmune features are rare. Liver biopsy shows changes typical of hepatitis with spotty cell injury and lobular and portal inflammation. The injury is rarely severe and fatal cases have not been reported. (Source: LiverTox)
Uses
Two substances from Aloe vera – a clear gel and its yellow latex – are used to manufacture commercial products. Aloe gel typically is used to make topical medications for skin conditions, such as burns, wounds, frostbite, rashes, psoriasis, cold sores, or dry skin. Aloe latex is used individually or manufactured as a product with other ingredients to be ingested for relief of constipation. Aloe latex may be obtained in a dried form called resin or as "aloe dried juice". (Source: Wiki)
Topical medication and potential side effects
Aloe vera may be prepared as a lotion, gel, soap or cosmetics product for use on skin as a topical medication. For people with allergies to Aloe vera, skin reactions may include contact dermatitis with mild redness and itching, difficulty with breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. (Source: Wiki)
Traditional medicine
Aloe vera is used in traditional medicine as a skin treatment. Early records of its use appear from the fourth millennium BCE. It is also written of in the Juliana Anicia Codex of 512 CE. (Source: Wiki)