Aloe emodin (1,8-dihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)anthraquinone) is an

anthraquinone Anthraquinone, also called anthracenedione or dioxoanthracene, is an aromatic hydrocarbon, aromatic organic compound with formula . Several isomers exist but these terms usually refer to 9,10-anthraquinone (IUPAC: 9,10-dioxoanthracene) wherein th ...

and an isomer of

emodin Emodin (6-methyl-1,3,8-trihydroxyanthraquinone) is an organic compound. Classified as an anthraquinone, it can be isolated from rhubarb, buckthorn, and Japanese knotweed ('' Reynoutria japonica'' syn. ''Polygonum cuspidatum''). Emodin is part ...

present in aloe latex, an exudate from the

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

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

carcinogenic A carcinogen () is any agent that promotes the development of cancer. Carcinogens can include synthetic chemicals, naturally occurring substances, physical agents such as ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and Biological agent, biologic agent ...

when applied to the skin, although it may increase the carcinogenicity of some kinds 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 plant, perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but ...

, the socotrine aloe, Barbados aloe, and Zanzibar aloes, the bark of ''Frangula'' (''

Rhamnus frangula ''Frangula alnus'', commonly known as alder buckthorn, glossy buckthorn, or breaking buckthorn, is a tall deciduous shrub in the family Rhamnaceae. Unlike other "buckthorns", alder buckthorn does not have thorns. It is native to Europe, northern ...

'') and cascara sagrada (''

Rhamnus purshiana ''Frangula purshiana'' (cascara, cascara buckthorn, cascara sagrada, bearberry, and in the Chinook Jargon, chittem stick and chitticum stick; syn. ''Rhamnus purshiana'') is a species of plant in the family Rhamnaceae. It is native to western Nor ...

''), the leaves of Senna ('' Cassia angustifolia''), and the rhizome of rhubarb (''

Rheum rhaponticum ''Rheum rhaponticum'', the false rhubarb, rhapontic rhubarb or rhapontic, is a plant species in the genus ''Rheum'' found in the wild. It is the only ''Rheum'' species found only in Europe, and is now restricted to the Rila mountain range in sout ...

''). Aloe-emodin has not been found in Natal aloes.

References

See also