Aloe vera in Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases: A Critical Scoping Review of Human Clinical Evidence, Therapeutic Routes, Immunomodulatory Potential, and Safety
Abstract
Background: Aloe vera has been widely used in traditional and complementary medicine because of its proposed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound-healing, and immunomodulatory properties. Although experimental investigations have suggested that several Aloe-derived compounds may influence inflammatory pathways, the extent to which these findings translate into clinically meaningful benefits in autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases remains uncertain.
Objective: To critically examine human clinical evidence regarding Aloe vera in autoimmune and immune-mediated disorders, with particular attention to disease-specific outcomes, administration routes, methodological quality, and safety.
Methods: A critical scoping review was undertaken using targeted bibliographic searches, citation tracking, and examination of accessible original clinical reports. Human interventional studies evaluating oral, topical, or local mucosal Aloe vera preparations in established autoimmune or immune-mediated diseases were considered. Findings were synthesized narratively because of substantial heterogeneity in interventions, populations, comparators, and outcomes.
Results: Clinical evidence was identified in Hashimoto thyroiditis, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, Sjögren disease, and lichen planus. Oral Aloe vera was associated with improvements in thyroid biochemical parameters in a nonrandomized Hashimoto study and with higher clinical response rates in a small ulcerative colitis trial, although remission outcomes were not statistically significant. Topical psoriasis trials yielded contradictory findings. Studies in lichen planus frequently reported improvement in mucosal lesions and symptoms, but comparisons with corticosteroids produced heterogeneous results. Evidence in Sjögren disease was limited to symptomatic xerostomia management. Oral Aloe vera-associated hepatotoxicity has been documented.
Conclusions: Clinical evidence remains preliminary and heterogeneous. Topical Aloe vera may provide symptomatic benefits in selected immune-mediated conditions, but systemic disease-modifying efficacy has not been established. Standardized formulations, adequately powered randomized trials, and systematic safety assessments are required.
How to Cite This Article
Jozelio Freire de Carvalho (2026). Aloe vera in Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases: A Critical Scoping Review of Human Clinical Evidence, Therapeutic Routes, Immunomodulatory Potential, and Safety . International Journal of Biological and Biomedical Research (IJBBMR), 2(5), 102-114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54660/IJBBR.2026.2.5.102-114