Aloe vera refers to the plant aloe barbadensis Miller. There are 420 different species of aloe. Aloe vera is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a food additive for flavoring. Aloe vera increases the average lifespan of rats and fruit flies when added to food and drinking water. Additionally, aloe vera gel reduces wrinkles in men. Concerns about the safety of aloe vera products have been raised by the National Cancer Institute. Aloe vera products that limit aloin to less than 5 ppm are safe. Products containing high aloin content are not safe. Aloin is potentially carcinogenic. Aloe vera contains vitamins A, B (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), C, beta-carotene, vitamins E and F as well as choline and folic acid. Aloe vera extract facilitates the digestion of sugars and fats because it contains amylases and lipases. The plant also contains: sodium, aluminum, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chromium, iron, copper and zinc. Saponins form 3% of the gel and have antiseptic properties. Aloe vera contains seven of the eight essential amino acids. Aloe contains phytochemicals such as salicylic, chrysophanic, succinic and uric organic acids, it contains polysaccharides such as acemannen, enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and various resins. Aloe vera can grow indoors and is easy to care for. To prepare aloe vera, the outer layers of the leaf are removed, leaving the aloe vera gel or mesh. The gel can be pasteurized at 75-80°C for less than 3 minutes for stabilization. Higher temperatures can break down the gel constituents. Yuji Ikeno et al. reported that permanent ingestion of aloe vera gel increases the average lifespan of Fischer rats. The animals used in this study...... middle of paper ......ats are the anthraquinones present in the parenchyma cells of whole leaf aloe vera. Aloe contains the anthraquinones barbaloin, isobarbaloin and anthrone C-glycosides. The rats were given aloe water containing 60 ppm aloin. The NTP found no evidence of carcinogenic activity in mice. However, NTP has never conducted a study on the ingestion of whole decolorized leaf extract in rats. Aloe vera is probably safe for use on the skin and is unlikely to cause skin cancer. Researchers at the University of Belgrade reported that aloe vera contains compounds that stop the proliferation of cells associated with skin cancer. Emodin is a constituent that protects against skin cancer. Conclusion: Aloe vera gel or mesh can be used safely as a dietary supplement and can potentially prolong life. Whole unbleached leaf extract is potentially carcinogenic.