Asphodelaceae · leaf gel (inner parenchyma), latex (aloes, aloin)

Aloe

Aloe vera

Conflicting evidenceUse with caution

Catalog maps gel mainly to topical and conflicting oral trials, and maps latex as a restricted-class anthraquinone laxative that many food products should not contain.

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Safety first

Two different drugs live in one leaf. Inner gel is a topical/food-like mucilage with conflicting trial data. Yellow latex (aloin) is a stimulant laxative and is not a beverage ingredient.

Tradition vs trials

Traditional record. Traditional pharmacy distinguished 'aloe' (dried latex) as a drastic purgative from the fresh inner gel used on skin.

Trial literature. Topical gel trials (burns, psoriasis) are mixed. Oral gel trials for metabolic or GI endpoints are conflicting and often poorly characterized for residual latex.

Practical ranges

Educational ranges — not a prescription. Culinary use is not an extract.

latex as laxative
Older Commission E ranges treated dried aloes as a short-term stimulant laxative comparable to other anthraquinones; modern food use of aloin is restricted in several jurisdictions
German Commission E — Educational range only — not a prescription. A licensed clinician individualizes product, dose, and duration.
inner gel
No single reliable oral 'gel dose' — products vary in polysaccharides and residual aloin. Topical use is the better-supported traditional form
WHO monographs — Educational range only — not a prescription. A licensed clinician individualizes product, dose, and duration.

Pregnancy, nursing, children

Pregnancy. Avoid latex. Inner-gel supplements lack adequate pregnancy data; topical intact-skin use is the lower-concern form.
Nursing. Avoid latex. Topical gel on intact skin is the lower-concern form.
Children. Do not give latex. Topical gel on intact skin is traditional; oral products are not pediatric by default.

Contraindications

oral latex in pregnancy, children, and chronic use
bowel obstruction (latex)
known aloe allergy

Key interactions

diuretics / digoxin (latex) · avoid
Anthraquinone potassium loss — same class concern as senna.

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