Aloe Arborescens Removed from Food Ingredients Due to Reported Side Effects
Health Concerns Raised as Aloe Arborescens Removed from Food Industry
Recent reports of side effects have led to the withdrawal of Aloe Arborescens, a popular ingredient in the food industry. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has amended the standards and specifications for food, removing ingredients that could potentially cause harm when ingested. This decision comes as a response to an increase in food poisoning cases and specifically targets Aloe Arborescens due to its reported adverse effects on the human body.
Aloe, a plant belonging to the Aloe genus of the Liliaceae family, has a long history of medicinal use. Three species of Aloe, including Aloe Vera, Arborescens, and Saponaria, have been utilized for their food properties.
For years, aloe has gained popularity as a skin care ingredient, offering benefits such as pigmentation prevention, skin whitening, and sebum secretion normalization. Additionally, aloe is believed to aid digestion, act as an anti-ulcer, protect the stomach wall, and alleviate hangover symptoms. Some studies have even suggested its potential anti-cancer effects.
One of the most prominent uses of Aloe Arborescens has been as a natural laxative to combat constipation, especially among women. The plant’s emodin components stimulate the intestines’ mucous membrane, promoting movement and increasing moisture in the large intestine to facilitate bowel movements.
Controversy Surrounding Aloe’s Side Effects
Despite its numerous benefits, aloe has faced controversy regarding its potential side effects. Abdominal pain stands out as the most commonly reported issue, but it has also been linked to breathing difficulties, rashes, hives, and sore throats, particularly in individuals with allergies. Overreliance on aloe by constipated patients can irritate the large intestine and potentially harm the kidneys.
Last year, the US National Center for Biological Information carried out a review titled “The Dark Side of the Miracle Plant Aloe Vera.” The study raised doubts about the safety of consuming aloe due to its various active compounds. For instance, aloin, the most active compound in aloe vera, can be metabolized into the carcinogenic and genotoxic anthraquinone aloe-emodin. Alkaloids and polysaccharides found in aloe have also been associated with hepatotoxicity and male infertility, respectively.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified aloe vera whole leaf extract as a probable human carcinogen. In 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration stated that over-the-counter use of aloe was not recognized as safe and effective.
Caution Advised When Using Aloe
Due to the reported side effects, it is crucial to exercise caution when using products containing aloe. The International Aloe Science Council has set limits on aloe content, with the maximum allowable concentration being less than 10 ppm for medical use and less than 50 ppm for non-medical use. Experts recommend using aloe products sparingly and for short periods to minimize potential risks.
In Korea, anhydrous bavaroin, a derivative of hydroxyanthracene, was withdrawn from health functional ingredients last year due to reported side effects such as acute hepatitis, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. As a raw material, its use has come to an end.
When asked about the timing of Aloe Arborescens’ removal from food ingredients, a researcher from the Food and Drug Administration’s Food Standards Division confirmed it was due to concerns that even small amounts of the skin could be mixed with the flesh. However, there is no need to panic about previously consumed aloe products unless urgent health concerns arise.
Chemical News Reporter: Park Chan-seo
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Containing ‘Aborescens’ in raw materials which could cause harm when ingested
Aloe, which was featured as a skin care and health food, was withdrawn from the food industry.
Aloin maximum content less than 10ppm, non-medical use less than 50ppm, safe to take in small amounts for a short period of time
‘Constipation’, which has various modifiers such as chronic, pregnancy, menstrual syndrome, and neurosis, is more common in women than men, and Aloe Arborescens, which has excellent effects on this, has been prominent as a ‘natural laxative’ ‘. which promotes intestinal health. However, after the withdrawal of whole aloe leaves from health functional ingredients last year, Aloe Arborescens is said to have also been excluded from food ingredients.
Aloe / Photo source-Pripic
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety made an administrative notice yesterday (18th) of the amendment to the notice of the “Standards and Specifications for Food”. The main content was that, due to the increase in food poisoning, salmonella tests on edible eggs would be extended to three types, but the part that ‘ingredients that could cause harm when ingested’ would be deleted from ‘ingredients food’ is also included. Among them, Aloe Arborescens will be removed due to reports of side effects on the human body.
Aloe is a perennial plant that belongs to the Aloe genus of the Liliaceae family and has been used since ancient times as a medicinal plant with a long history. Three species of Aloe Vera, Arborescens, and Saponaria are used for food.
Aloe has been popular as a cosmetic ingredient because it is good for skin care. It is known to prevent pigmentation, is excellent in whitening, and is effective in normalizing sebum secretion and skin regeneration.
Aloe gel makeup / photo source – Pripic
As a functional food, aloe has a faith level for almost every problem. An obvious effect is the effect on the digestive system, which is known to aid digestion and absorption, act as an anti-ulcer, protect the stomach wall, and relieve hangovers. Some say that aloe has an anti-cancer effect due to acrotin A.
Above all, aloe solved the long-standing problem of women, namely ‘constipation’. In particular, Arborescens was most commonly used, and the emodin components of aloe aloe and aloin stimulated the mucous membrane of the intestines and promoted movement, while increasing moisture in the large intestine to facilitate bowel movements.
Hanging toilet paper / Photo source – Pripic
In addition to the excellent effects of aloe, there are many controversies regarding its side effects. Abdominal pain was the most common cause, and it also caused breathing difficulties, rashes, hives, and sore throats in people with allergies. If a constipated patient relies too much on aloe, it can irritate the large intestine and damage the kidneys.
The US National Center for Biological Information, PubMed, published a review on ‘the dark side of the miracle plant aloe vera’ in January last year. Scientists at Guru Jambeshwar University of Science and Technology in India have questioned whether aloe is safe to eat due to its many active compounds.
According to the research team’s summary based on information from various international journals, ‘aloin’, the most active compound of aloe vera, is metabolized by intestinal microorganisms to form the anthraquinone aloe-emodin, which has carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, it is said to be associated with harmful effects such as toxicity and cleansing. Alkaloids and polysaccharides have also been reported to cause hepatotoxicity and male infertility, respectively.
Aloe-emodin 3D structure / Image source – US National Library of Medicine
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified aloe vera whole leaf extract as a probable human carcinogen (Group 2B). Before that, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule in 2002 that over-the-counter use of aloe was not recognized as safe and effective.
Standards set by the International Aloe Science Council require the maximum allowable aloe content to be less than 10 ppm, and the recommended limit for non-medical use is less than 50 ppm. Experts say it is safest to avoid long clothes and eat small amounts for a short time.
In Korea, anhydrous bavaroin, a functional ingredient, is a derivative of hydroxyanthracene, and stability issues such as side effects such as acute hepatitis, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity have been reported, so it was withdrawn from health functional ingredients last year. As a raw material, he foresaw the end.
In a telephone interview with Chemical News, a researcher from the Food and Drug Administration’s Food Standards Division responded to a reporter’s question, “Why is the time to eliminate food ingredients for Arborescens now?” It was taken because even a small amount of the skin could be mixed with the flesh.”
In addition, since there is no urgent situation, he added, ‘There is no need to worry too much about the aloe products you have consumed so far’.
Chemical News Reporter Park Chan-seo
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