Aloe Vera Bulletin Published by Botanical
Adulterants Prevention Program
New publication documents adulteration of aloe
vera leaf gel and juice with undeclared maltodextrin and ingredients from other Aloe species
Liquids and
gels (often dried into powders) obtained from the leaf of aloe vera are widely
used as ingredients in dietary supplement, personal care, and cosmetic
products. In addition, aloe vera leaf juice ingredients for internal
consumption are popular in the food and beverage industry. The total global
market value of aloe vera leaf gel (as an ingredient for all types of products)
was estimated at US $507 million in 2017.
Aloe vera
leaf gel and juice are known to be rich in polysaccharides (complex sugars),
most importantly acemannan and pectic polysaccharides. These large molecules
are difficult to analyze by chromatographic techniques commonly used in
analytical laboratories, and therefore are often measured using unspecific
methods such as spectrophotometry or conductivity (measuring the total amount
of ions). Fraudulent suppliers have taken advantage of these non-specific test
methods to substitute or dilute the aloe polysaccharides with lower-cost
carbohydrates such as maltodextrin (a food additive usually derived from corn [Zea mays]) or sucrose
(common table sugar).
The new
bulletin, written by Ezra Bejar, PhD, an expert in botanical research in San
Diego, California, lists the known adulterants, summarizes current analytical
approaches to detect adulterants, and provides information on the nomenclature,
supply chain, and market importance of aloe vera. It also discusses safety
aspects of the known adulterants. The BAPB was reviewed by 27 experts from the
nonprofit research sector, trade organizations, and the herb industry.
Stefan
Gafner, PhD, chief science officer of the nonprofit American Botanical Council
(ABC) and the technical director of BAPP, commented: “Aloe vera leaf juice is a
very popular ingredient with many applications. The use of reconstituted aloe
vera juice from a 200x concentrated powder is of particular interest for
companies in the personal care and cosmetic sector, since it provides a means
to replace water as the most predominant ingredient by volume (which by law has
to be listed as the first ingredient on the label), giving the product the
appearance of a higher quality. Costs for 200x concentrated aloe leaf powder
are between US $225-305 per kilogram, so there is a financial incentive for
unethical suppliers to substitute the aloe leaf powder with lower-cost
carbohydrates.”
“Many
experts in the herbal industry have known for a long time that some aloe
materials are adulterated,” said Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive
director of ABC and the founder and director of BAPP. “Because many aloe
materials are in liquid or gel form, it is relatively easy for unethical aloe
producers to ‘stretch’ the aloe material by adding low-cost liquids and various
types of sugars (carbohydrates) to the ingredients to increase profits. By providing
this bulletin to responsible members of the herb, personal care, and cosmetic
industries, BAPP hopes to reduce the amount of cheap, adulterated, and
presumably ineffective aloe materials going into consumer products.”
The aloe vera bulletin is the 18th publication
in the series of BAPBs and the 51st peer-reviewed publication published by
BAPP. As with all publications in the Program, the BAPBs are freely accessible
to all ABC members, registered users of the ABC website, and all members of the
public on the Program’s website (registration required).
The
ABC-AHP (American Herbal Pharmacopoeia)-NCNPR (National Center for Natural
Products Research at the University of Mississippi) Botanical Adulterants
Prevention Program is an international consortium of nonprofit professional
organizations, analytical laboratories, research centers, industry trade
associations, industry members, and other parties with interest in herbs and
medicinal plants. The Program advises industry, researchers, health
professionals, government agencies, the media, and the public about the various
challenges related to adulterated botanical ingredients sold in commerce. To
date, more than 200 United States and international parties have financially
supported or otherwise endorsed the Program.
To date, the Program
has published 51 extensively peer-reviewed articles, Botanical Adulterants
Prevention Bulletins, Laboratory Guidance Documents, and Botanical Adulterants
Monitor e-newsletters. All of the Program’s publications are freely available
on the Program’s website (registration required).