Studies of Aloe. I. Cathartic Effects

• Published in: YAKUGAKU ZASSHI Vol. 101; no. 3; pp. 254 - 258
• Main Authors: ISHII, YASUKO, TANIZAWA, HISAYUKI, IKEMOTO, CHOJI, TAKINO, YOSHIO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 01.03.1981
• Subjects: Aloe; Aloe - analysis; Aloe arborescens MILL. var. natalensis BERGER; Animals; barbaloin; cathartic effect; Cathartics - analysis; Cathartics - pharmacology; Gastrointestinal Motility - drug effects; Intestine, Large - drug effects; irritant cathartic; Kidachialoe; Male; mechanism of cathartic effect; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Plants, Medicinal - analysis; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains
• ISSN: 0031-6903; 1347-5231
• DOI: 10.1248/yakushi1947.101.3_254

Cathartic effects of Aloe pulv. (J. P. IX) and pulv. of Aloe arborescens MILL. var. natalensis BERGER (Kidachialoe) were examined in mice and rats by oral administration. It was found that rats were more suitable than mice. Additionally, no sex difference in rats was observed. Cathartic activity (ED50) in male rats was 84.3 mg/kg in Aloe pulv., and 900 mg/kg in Kidachialoe pulv. Several experiments to find the mechanism of cathartic effect of Aloe were done. It was considered that Aloe acted on the large intestine mainly, and that process of activation of Aloe by intestinal flora was necessary to act. It was considered that main cathartic component of Aloe was barbaloin by comparision of barbaloin contents in Aloe and cathartic activity. Then, it was concluded that barbaloin represented cathartic activity of Aloe.