EFFECTS OF ALOE-VERA INGESTION IN THE RAT - I - GROWTH, FOOD AND FLUID INTAKE AND SERUM CHEMISTRY

This study was designed to examine the effects of long-term (1.5 and 5 .5 months) Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) ingestion on the growth, food intake and serum chemistry of Fischer 344 male rats. Aloe vera powders , produced by two different methods, were mixed with rat chow at selec ted concentrations, Process A aloe was prepared from skinned aloe file ts by homogenization followed by lyophilization and grinding to a fine powder; Process B aloe was prepared similarly except that the homogen ate was charcoal filtered prior to lyophilization. Ingestion of Proces s A aloe at concentrations greater than 1% was associated with diarrho ea and a decrease in weight gain, Ingestion of 1% Process A and both 1 % and 10% Process B aloe had no adverse effect on body weight gain, fo od intake, gastrointestinal transit time and gross pathology, Serum ch emistry was minimally affected, The rats ingesting 10% Process B aloe exhibited a slight, but significant increase in fluid intake. The resu lts indicate that, although high concentrations of aloe should be avoi ded, ingestion of moderate levels (1%) of aloe from either process cau ses no apparent adverse effects in the rat. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons , Ltd.