EFFECT OF ALOIN, A QUINONE DERIVATIVE OF ALOE, ON ETHANOL-METABOLISM IN THE RAT

Aloe contains aloin, a C-glycoside of anthraquinone. Based on recent r eports indicating that the a extract of aloe enhances ethanol metaboli sm, and as quinones in general have a functional role in elevating the ethanol metabolism rate in vivo, we have attempted to identify the qu inone derivative contained in aloe that was responsible. Upon oral adm inistration of aloin (300 mg kg(-1)) 12 h before ethanol administratio n, the area under the curve (AUC) of blood ethanol significantly decre ased by 40%, while the slope of elimination and rate of disappearance from the body increased by 60% and 64%, respectively. Based on these r esults, we conclude that aloin, localised in the skin of aloe, could b e the substance in aloe that promotes ethanol metabolism in vivo.