By BILL PINE
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Improve USA

   Aloe vera has been used in almost as many applications and in as many different products as can be imagined. The applications for aloe range from harsh laxatives (to be referred to in this article as "Aloe Rx") to gentle moisturizers, herbal beverages and dietary supplements (to be referred to in this article as Aloe vera).
Aloe Rx as defined in the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) is a drug and is represented as the extracted dried latex sap from under the rind of the leaf. This concentrated hydroxyanthraquinone has been used in laxative products for many years but is only one of more than 200 components making up the structure of Aloe vera. Aloe Rx is a strong cathartic herb, which has recently been removed from the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) list by FDA.
   On the other side of the spectrum is Aloe vera, which is sold in the cosmetic, beverage and dietary supplement industries. Both Aloe Rx and Aloe vera have very distinct differences. Aloe Rx is concentrated hydroxyanthraquinones, while Aloe vera is processed by the using the entire leaf and removing the hydroxyanthraquinones and retaining many of the components found in the fresh leaf. Aloe vera is almost free of the
hydroxyanthraquinones with content levels ranging from 50 ppm (parts per million) to less than 1 ppm.    The Aloe vera used in cosmetics, beverages and dietary supplements makes up 99% of the aloe market, however, there continues to be confusion regarding its safety because of its association with Aloe Rx. Unfortunately, this has led many to recommend that Aloe vera not be consumed based on USP's designation of Aloe Rx as a drug.

Safety of Aloe Vera
   Aloe vera has been consumed by millions of people without incident and has been used in cosmetic products more than any other herb. This ubiquitous herb has also been quietly serving the population as a treatment for burns, relief of chapped and irritated skin, moisturizing aid in lotions, soothing stomach disorders and a wide range of other applications.
   So how can this be the same Aloe vera as listed in the USP?
   It is not. Aloe vera has one of the longest historical databases of successful use in the industry and should be defined as the safe and beneficial herb that it is.

   Promoting the safety and benefits of Aloe vera is the International Aloe Science Council (IASC), which is a non-profit industry organization established more than 20 years ago to: "Advance and promote the aloe industry through education, research and certification of raw materials and finished products. Function as a representative for the industry with state, federal and international regulatory bodies for truth in labeling. Collect, monitor and make available to members data regarding the aloe industry andfunction as the spokesperson to the media."
   IASC is made up of competing companies that have joined together to develop standards, fund research and create certification standards in an effort make sure the consumer can rely on clean, pure and safe Aloe vera products.
   Most recently IASC has urged FDA to establish a difference between Aloe Rx and Aloe vera.

Status of Research
   These days it is easy to go to the local store and find a product that contains Aloe vera. It can be found in products such as hand lotions, shampoos, cosmetics, beverages or dietary supplements. In the consumer's mind Aloe vera has one of the highest recognition levels as a beneficial herb.
   In recent history, Aloe vera has been proven efficacious through its use in several institutions. The Shriner's Burn Hospital, Galveston, TX, for example, uses Aloe vera as a burn protocol. In addition, there are several approved medical devices containing Aloe vera that are used in many hospitals around the world to treat decubinus ulcers, also known as bed sores, and to soften and relieve chapped and irritated skin. It is also used in radiation therapy to lessen the effects of high dose radiation in burning the skin.
In veterinary medicine, Aloe vera is used as an approved drug to treat feline leukemia and tumors in dogs and cats. In fact, the University of Texas, conducted a three-year study on lab rats, which indicated that consuming Aloe vera may reduce the effects of aging and increase the quality of life of the elderly.
   Lastly, a recent study by conducted by Dr. Joe Vinson at Scranton University, Scranton, PA, concluded that consuming vitamin E or vitamin C with Aloe vera increased the half-life of the vitamin in the plasma. This research suggests that taking vitamins with Aloe vera instead of water could increase their bioavailability. More research is obviously needed to validate this important benefit but there is great potential. In addition, to these studies there are several others that indicate Aloe vera may play an important role in health.

Bill Pine is the vice president of sales and marketing for Improve USA, DeSoto, TX. He is also the president of the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) board of directors and will be chairman of the board in 2004 and 2005. He can be reached at 972-230-9155; Fax: 972-230-8824; E-mail: bpine@aloewholesale.com; Website: www.aloewholesale.com.