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 selected concentrations. Process A aloe was prepared from skinned aloe filets by homogenization followed by lyophilization and grinding to a fine powder; Process B aloe was prepared similarly except that the homogenate was charcoal filtered prior to lyophilization. Ingestion of Process A aloe at concentrations greater than 1% was associated with diarrhoea 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, food intake, gastrointestinal transit time and gross pathology. Serum chemistry was minimally affected. The rats ingesting 10% Process B aloe exhibited a slight, but significant increase in fluid intake. The results indicate that, although high concentrations of aloe should be avoided, ingestion of moderate levels (1%) of aloe from either process causes no apparent adverse effects in the rat.