Aloe Vera, Extract; Aloe Barbadensis/Vera Extract/Gel

(in 5,085 products)

1. Antioxidant - Reduces oxidation to prevent the formation of free radicals which may be harmful to health.

2. Experimental / Patented - Relatively new ingredient with limited data available

Aloe vera is a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe. An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula but grows wild in tropical climates around the world and is cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses. The species is also used for decorative purposes and grows successfully indoors as a potted plant. [1]

Aloe vera is used widely in traditional herbal medicine as a skin treatment in many countries. Aloe vera gel is used commercially as an ingredient in yogurts, beverages, and some desserts while aloe vera juice is marketed to support the health of the digestive system. It is found in many consumer products including beverages, skin lotion, cosmetics, or ointments for minor burns and sunburns. There is little scientific evidence of the effectiveness or safety of Aloe vera extracts for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes. [1]

The main use of Aloe Barbadensis, also known as aloe vera, is for treating skin wounds and for other health benefits. “The plant leaves contain numerous vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, natural sugars, and other bioactive compounds with emollient, purgative, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, aphrodisiac, anti-helminthic, antifungal, antiseptic, and cosmetic values for health care. This plant has potential to cure sunburns, burns and minor cuts, and even skin cancer. The external use in cosmetic primarily acts as skin healer and prevents injury of epithelial tissues, cures acne and gives a youthful glow to skin, also acts as extremely powerful laxative.” [2] Aloe vera has also shown to help with the reductions of blood glucose and blood pressure of diabetic patients. “It also improves the responsiveness of the body tissues towards insulin, thereby making insulin more effective.” [3]

A study was done with twenty healthy female subjects aged 20-45 years old to measure the effectiveness of aloe vera for improving skin moisture. “Formulations containing different concentrations of freeze‐dried Aloe vera extract showed efficacy in improving skin moisture by a humectant mechanism when evaluated in short‐ and long‐term application studies. After a single application, only formulations supplemented with concentrations above 0.25% improved the water content of the stratum corneum. After 1‐ and 2‐week period of application, all the concentrations were significantly effective.” [4]

Despite the many health benefits of this plant, there are some health risks of aloe vera that are important to consider. “Ingestion of Aloe vera is associated with diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance, kidney dysfunction, and conventional drug interactions; episodes of contact dermatitis, erythema, and phototoxicity have been reported from topical applications.” [5] New studies are being conducted to test for any carcinogenic activity in aloe vera. “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).” [6]

1. PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5712222

2. Therapeutic and Medicinal Uses of Aloe vera: A Review (Pharmacol. Pharm., Vol. 4 No. 8, 2013, pp. 599-610. doi: 10.4236/pp.2013.48086.)

3. Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of Aloe vera L. in non-insulin dependent diabetics. (J. Food. Sci. Technol. 51, 90–96 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-011-0459-0)

4. Moisturizing effect of cosmetic formulations containing Aloe vera extract in different concentrations assessed by skin bioengineering techniques. (Skin Res. Technol., 12: 241-246. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0909-752X.2006.00155.x)

5. An Evaluation of the Biological and Toxicological Properties of Aloe Barbadensis (Miller), Aloe Vera, (J. Environ. Sci. Health C, 24:1, 103-154, doi: 10.1080/10590500600614303)

6. Biomedical applications of Aloe vera. (Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 59:sup1, pages S244-S256.)

1. WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Group 2B [2018]

- Aloe vera, whole leaf extract

2. US FDA Food Additives Status List [2018]

- Aloe