Benefit of Aloe Vera - Does aloe vera benefit those interested in weight loss?

Aloe vera (syn. A. barbadensis Mill., A. vulgaris Lam.) is a species of aloe, native to northern Africa. The benefit of aloe vera is most often in regards to its use as a topical product for wound healing. However, more aloe vera benefits are being discovered.

Aloe vera for weight loss
Oral forms of aloe are added to herbal weight-loss products. Oral aloe produces a strong cathartic response (producing bowel movements) and many aloe weight-loss products are marketed as "internal cleansers."
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Aloe Verite Source Naturals

Aloe Verite organic, whole leaf aloe vera tablets offer the benefits of premium ale vera juice in powerfully concentrated, easy to swallow tablets. Each Aloe Verite tablet contains a potent 200:1 concentrate of organic, whole-leaf, cold processed aloe vera powder. Source Naturals Aloe Verite tablets are made from freshly extracted aloe vera juice, which is vaccuum processed at low temperatures to remove excess water. This method is superior to the heat-processing method used by most companies, because heat can destroy the active constituents of aloe vera.


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Benefit of aloe vera for burns
Although the studies have not all been consistent, most of the studies indicate that aloe vera is effective in burn wound healing for first to second degree burns.

Aloe vera for weight loss
The use of aloe vera has not been proven to keep weight off. For an effective natural diet pill, see Diet Rx.

Aloe vera for cancer
Laboratory studies indicate that compounds in this plant have anti-cancer potential, but, as of November 2007, human studies are not available to indicate whether aloe vera juice or aloe leaf extract supplements are useful in cancer treatment. You will find some preclinical studies with aloe vera leaf extract and cancer listed below.

Benefit of aloe vera in gastric tumor
Preclinical in vitro studies suggest that aloe-emodin, an antraquinone found in aloe vera leaf, causes apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma cells.

Benefit of aloe vera for liver tumor
Tumour preventive effect of Aloe vera leaf pulp lectin (Aloctin I) on Ehrlich ascites tumours in mice.
Phytother Res. 2007 Aug 8; Akev N, Turkay G, Can A, Gurel A, Yildiz F, Yardibi H, Ekiz EE, Uzun H. Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul University, 34116 Beyazit, Istanbul, Turkey.
In this study, the prophylactic effect of the main lectin present in Aloe vera leaf pulp extract ( Aloctin I ) was assayed against Ehrlich ascites tumours in mice. The lectin administered prophylactically before tumour implantation regressed tumour size, however, this activity was less potent than that of the Aloe vera leaf pulp extract previously shown in our laboratory. Accordingly, serum sialic acid and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) levels, chosen as tumor markers, were decreased significantly by the prophylactic administration of the lectin. The increase in spleen and thymus weights in the group given only Aloctin I, could be explained by the immunomodulatory and mitogenic effects of lectins. These findings, along with lymphoid hyperplasia observed in spleen and thymus, suggest that the tumor preventive effect of Aloctin I could be due to its influence on the immune system.
   Comments: See below for cases of hepatitis reported with long term use of aloe vera juice or supplements.

Benefit of aloe vera leaf for fungus infections
Antifungal activity of Aloe vera leaves.
Fitoterapia. 2007 Apr;78(3):219-22. Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes,-Bolyai University, 42 Republicii Street, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Aloe vera fresh leaves hydroalcoholic plant extract was tested against the mycelial growth of Botrytis gladiolorum, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. gladioli, Heterosporium pruneti and Penicillium gladioli on Czapek-agar medium. The minimum fungicidal concentration varied between 80 and 100 microl/ml, depending on the fungal species.

Benefit of aloe vera for kidney stone prevention
Effect of aloe (Aloe vera Linn.) on healthy adult volunteers: changes in urinary composition.
J Med Assoc Thai. 2006 Aug;89 Suppl 2:S9-14. Kirdpon S, Kirdpon W, Airarat W, Trevanich A, Nanakorn S. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
To investigate the amount of citrate and tartrate in aloe gel, and in the urine of healthy normal volunteers, before and after consuming fresh aloe gel. To evaluate the changes in the chemical composition of urine among subjects after taking aloe gel. To determine the value of consuming aloe gel for prevention of renal stone formation. Thirty one healthy male medical students between 18 and 23 years of age were enrolled in the clinical trial. Subjects ingested 100 grams of fresh aloe gel twice a day for seven consecutive days. The citrate and tartrate concentration in 100 g of fresh aloe gel was 96 and 158 mg, respectively. The urinary excretion of oxalate was significantly decreased. Changes in chemical compositions of urine after aloe consumption shows its potential for preventing kidney stone formation among adults.

Aloe vera long term use
Most herbs are safe for long term use as long as people take a day or two off each week and a week off each month. Unexpected side effects can occur when certain herbal supplements are used daily for many months without taking a break. Therefore, if you plan to take advantage of the benefits of aloe vera, do take breaks from use.

Aloe vera supplement side effects
 Use of aloe vera orally has led to side effects such as abdominal cramping, diarrhea and problems with the body's mineral balance. In addition, aloe vera can interact with medications such as Lanoxin (digoxin), a medicine used to treat heart failure or atrial fibrillation.

Aloe vera and hepatitis
There have been a few reports of aloe vera causing acute hepatitis (liver inflammation). For this reason, it is important to take frequent breaks from the use of aloe vera juice or aloe vera leaf supplement.

Aloe vera in skin care products
Aloe vera whole leaf extracts are incorporated into a wide variety of topically applied commercial products. Aloe vera whole leaf extracts contain anthraquinones, which have been shown to generate reactive oxygen species in the presence of ultraviolet A (UVA) light. Those who use skin care products that contain aloe vera whole leaf extracts may have enhanced sensitivity to ultraviolet light. It would be preferable to avoid excessive sun exposure when using aloe vera skin care products.

Compounds in aloe vera leaf
Aloe vera juice contains many compounds, including aloesin, aloeresin A, and aloe-emodin, an anthraquinone compound.

Compounds in aloe vera flower
The dried flowers from Aloe vera Burm. f. (Aloe barbadensis Mill.) (Asphodelaceae) contain chlorogenic, caffeic, 5-P-coumaroylquinic, caffeoylshikimic, 5-feruloylquinic, 5-P-CIS-coumaroylquinic, P-coumaric and ferulic acid as well as luteolin, apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol, isoorientin, isovitexin and their 7-O-glucosides, saponarin and lutonarin. On searching for anthranoids in the flower extract, aloe-emodin as well as the glycosylchromone aloeresin B could be identified. Aloin A and B, the ones responsible for the laxative effects, are not accumulated in the dried flowers.