Aloe barbadensis Mill. has a long history of medicinal use in the annals of traditional Chinese medicine, wherein it has garnered considerable renown. Its multifaceted therapeutic properties, characterized by its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial attributes, alongside its established efficacy as a laxative agent, have been extensively documented. This review commences with an exploration of the nomenclature, fundamental characteristics, and principal constituents of Aloe barbadensis Mill. responsible for its laxative effects. Subsequently, we delve into an extensive examination of the molecular mechanisms underlying Aloe barbadensis Mill.\'s laxative properties, types of constipation treatments, commercially available preparations, considerations pertaining to toxicity, and its clinical applications. This review aims to serve as a comprehensive reference point for healthcare professionals and researchers, fostering an enhanced understanding of the optimal utilization of Aloe barbadensis Mill. in the treatment of constipation.

Several foods on the market, such as yogurt and fermented milk, include mixtures of prebiotics and probiotic microorganisms effective in promoting the proliferation and equilibrium of intestinal bacteria, thus improving gut health. Particularly, researchers and the public have shown increasing interest in the combination of probiotics with natural substances that promote health or that can act as substrates to promote bacterial growth. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of different extracts of Aloe barbadensis and Aloe arborescens in fermented milk, taking into account both the prebiotic effect of aloe polysaccharides and the antimicrobial activity of several secondary metabolites. The results demonstrate a beneficial effect of 5% aloe inner gel on Lactobacillus growth and confirm the antimicrobial activity of the phenolic compounds peculiar of green rind extracts.

Aloe barbadensis Mill has been used as food and medicine for a long time. In order to investigate the chemical constituents of A. barbadensis and their inhibitory activities towards phosphodiesterase-4D (PDE4D), 70% methanol extract of the dried A. barbadensis powder was employed. Phytochemical investigation has led to the isolation of three new chromones, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-2-methylchromone (4), 5-((4E)-2\'-oxo-pentenyl)-2-hydroxymethylchromone (6), and 7-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylchromone (7), together with eighteen known compounds. Their chemical structures were determined based on spectroscopic methods including UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR, and HRMS spectrometry. In addition, their inhibition against PDE4D was evaluated using tritium-labeled adenosine 3\',5\'-cyclic monophosphate ((3)H-cAMP) as the substrate. Inhibition was calculated by the variation of radioactivity after the reaction, and compounds 1-4, 10, and 21 exhibited certain inhibitory activities towards PDE4D, which can provide an explanation why A. barbadensis can serve as anti-inflammatory agents.