Aloe emodin (1,8-dihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)anthraquinone) is an anthraquinone and an isomer of emodin present in aloe latex, an exudate from the

aloe ''Aloe'' (; also written ''Aloë'') is a genus containing over 650 species of flowering succulent plants.WFO (2022): Aloe L. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-4000001341. Accessed on: 06 Nov 2022 The most wid ...

plant. It has a strong stimulant-laxative action. Aloe emodin is not

carcinogenic A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that promotes carcinogenesis (the formation of cancer). This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes. Several radioactive substan ...

when applied to the skin, although it may increase the carcinogenicity of some kind of radiation. Aloe emodin is found in the gel, sap or leaves of

aloe vera ''Aloe vera'' () is a succulent plant species of the genus ''Aloe''. It is widely distributed, and is considered an invasive species in many world regions. An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in tro ...

, the

socotrine aloe ''Aloe perryi'' (syn. ''Aloe forbesii'' Balf.f.; ''Aloe socotrina'') is a species of plant in the genus Aloe. It is endemic to the island of Socotra in Yemen, and is often known by its common name, Socotrine aloe.''Western Arabia and the Red Sea' ...

Barbados aloe ''Aloe vera'' () is a succulent plant species of the genus '' Aloe''. It is widely distributed, and is considered an invasive species in many world regions. An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in ...

, and Zanzibar aloes, the bark of ''Frangula'' ('' Rhamnus frangula'') and cascara sagrada ('' Rhamnus purshiana''), the leaves of Senna (''

Cassia angustifolia ''Senna alexandrina'' (Alexandrian senna, in Arabic عشرج or عشرق or سنامكي and see below) is an ornamental plant in the genus '' Senna''. It is used in herbalism. It grows natively in upper Egypt, especially in the Nubian region, a ...

''), and the rhizome of rhubarb ('' Rheum rhaponticum''). Aloe-emodin has not been found in Natal aloes.

References

See also