A bitter yellow compound found in aloe plants, used traditionally as a strong laxative or purgative.
From 'aloe' plus the chemical suffix '-in' (used for alkaloids and chemical compounds). The compound was isolated and named in the 19th century when chemists began systematically extracting active ingredients from medicinal plants.
Aloin is so powerful as a laxative that it was used for centuries in medicines, but it's actually toxic in large doses—which is why modern aloe products are careful to remove it! It's a perfect example of how 'natural' doesn't automatically mean 'safe.'
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