Aloin was used as a flavoring agent for alcoholic beverages and as a laxative in over-the-counter medications, but in May 2002, the FDA ruled that it may be carcenogenic, so it was removed from sale in said medications.
It is used as a stimulant-laxative, treating constipation by inducing bowel movements. This food application is generally limited to use in quite small quantities as a flavoring in alcoholic beverages and may usually be identified only as a "natural flavor." In May 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a ruling that aloe laxatives are no longer generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and effective, meaning that aloin-containing products are no longer available in over-the-counter drug products in the United States, because they may be carcinogenic and more data is needed to establish otherwise. 
