The molecule is a diastereoisomeric mixture of aloin A (barbaloin) and aloin B (isobarbaloin), which have similar properties. It is a bitter-tasting, yellow-brown colored compound found in the exudate of at least 68 Aloe species at levels of up to 6.6% of leaf dry weight (making between 3% and 35% of the total exudate), and in another 17 species at indeterminate levels. It is used as a stimulant-laxative, treating constipation by inducing bowel movements. It has a role as a laxative and an EC 1.14.18.1 (tyrosinase) inhibitor. It contains an aloin A and an aloin B.
1,8-dihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-10-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-10H-anthracen-9-one