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Munich (netdoktor.de) – Aloe vera is not only in many skin care products, but also in juices and food supplements. But may be anything but healthy could be taking home the “Lily of the desert”: at least in rats, aloe vera extracts cause tumors in the digestive tract. That revealed a study within the framework of the US toxicology program (NTP) of the national institutes national of health. Still, it is not clear whether the result of rat tests on humans is transferable. Further investigation are planned at the moment. This commercial food supplements with Aloe extracts under the microscope are to be taken, so Daniel fabricant of the American Agency for food and drugs (FDA).

The scientists of the NTP study had been rats two years drinking water with an extract from the leaves of Aloe barbadensis (colloquially: Aloe vera) was offset. The dose was relatively high at 1.5%. As a result, 39 per cent of the female and 74 percent of male animals developed tumors in the colon – some of them were malicious. The rats of the control group, who had received normal water, however, on no cell proliferation.

An analog attempt with mice no increased cancer risk was observed, however, by Aloe extracts in drinking water. However, rats are considered the better animals, when it comes to conclusions on the human health. Because unlike rats, mice have other bacteria in their intestines, which process the ingredients of Aloe.

Aloin A suspected

“The next step it to find out what biochemical substances in the complex mixture of substance that is extracted from Aloe vera, are responsible for tumor growth in rats”, says Nigel Walker of National Institute of environmental health sciences, participated in the evaluation of the results of the study.

Currently, the main suspect is the so-called Aloin A. It is in full leaf extracts of aloe vera. However, aloe vera gel and “entfärbte” extracts, filtered through activated carbon significantly less Aloin A containing.

Long tradition

Aloe vera has long been medically used, and in many different fields: externally applied Aloe vera gel, for example, when blemishes, eczema, wounds, and sunburn helps. Taking Aloe, vera extracts is recommended to keep healthy of the intestinal flora. Some herbalists talk to even a Heilwirkuung in diseases such as asthma and diabetes to Aloe vera. The United States Agency for complementary and alternative medicine but warns that this could not scientifically prove be. (mf)