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From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.chem,misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Aloe, Aloe...
Summary: Aloe there, yourself! :-)
Message-ID: <4188@kitty.UUCP>
Date: 22 Nov 90 21:04:58 GMT
References: <2144@ac.dal.ca>
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
Lines: 24

In article <2144@ac.dal.ca>, bthill@ac.dal.ca writes:
> I am curious about the nature of the chemical in Aloe plants that has healing
> qualities.  I'd appreciate any information posted here or mailed to me.

	The active ingredients in aloe are several pentosides which are
readily hydrolyzed (aided by alkalies) to form anthraquinone glucosides.
Two examples are aloin and emodin (a hydroxy methylanthraquinone).

	Aloe and its derivatives are powerful cathartics that will turn
circles around Ex-Lax any day! :-)

	I am not aware of any "healing" properties of aloe, other than
to promote defecation.  I have seen soap and cosmetic products which
allege to contain aloe, and I know of *NO* proven benefit to be derived
from the inclusion of aloe or its derivatives in any such product!

	Since the "general public" does not really know what aloe can or
cannot do, and since the ingredient name aloe seems "exotic", it is a
marketing ploy which sells soap and cosmetic products.  Just as useless
as "lemon" in dishwashing detergents...

Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp.  "Have you hugged your cat today?"
VOICE: 716/688-1231   {boulder, rutgers, watmath}!ub!kitty!larry
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