Overview
Agave has been taken by mouth for constipation, cancer, male-pattern baldness, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Agave can cause severe irritation and allergic reactions when applied to the skin.
How does it work ?
Uses & Effectiveness ?
Insufficient Evidence for
- Breast-feeding.
- Bruises.
- Cancer.
- Constipation.
- Diarrhea.
- Gas (flatulence).
- Indigestion (dyspepsia).
- Liver disease.
- Male-pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia).
- Promoting labor.
- Other conditions.
Side Effects
When applied to the skin: The agave plant is POSSIBLY UNSAFE for most people. Exposure to the fresh agave plant may cause swelling and redness, skin sores, and swelling of small blood vessels (veins) within minutes to hours of exposure. The sap appears to be the most irritating part of the plant.
Special Precautions and Warnings
There isn't enough reliable information to know if agave is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions ?
We currently have no information for AGAVE overview.
Dosing
Backstrand JR, Allen LH, Martinez E, Pelto GH. Maternal consumption of pulque, a traditional central Mexican alcoholic beverage: relationships to infant growth and development. Public Health Nutr 2001;4(4):883-91. View abstract.
Backstrand JR, Goodman AH, Allen LH, Pelto GH. Pulque intake during pregnancy and lactation in rural Mexico: alcohol and child growth from 1 to 57 months. Eur J Clin Nutr 2004;58(12):1626-34. View abstract.
Basilio CM, Seyler L, Bernstein J, et al. Isolation and characterization of an utero-active compound from Agave americana. P R Health Sci J 1989;8(3):295-299. View abstract.
Borup LH, Meehan JJ, Severson JM, et al. Terminal spine of agave plant extracted from patient's spinal cord. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2003;181(4):1155-1156. View abstract.
Brazzelli V, Romano E, Balduzzi A, et al. Acute irritant contact dermatitis from Agave americana L. Contact Dermatitis 1995;33(1):60-61. View abstract.
Brenner S, Landau M, Goldberg I. Contact dermatitis with systemic symptoms from Agave americana. Dermatology 1998;196(4):408-411. View abstract.
Cherpelis BS, Fenske NA. Purpuric irritant contact dermatitis induced by Agave americana. Cutis 2000;66(4):287-8. View abstract.
Crawford GH, Eickhorst KM, McGovern TW. Botanical briefs: the century plant--Agave americana L. Cutis 2003;72(3):188-90. View abstract.
Danielson DR, Reinhard KJ. Human dental microwear caused by calcium oxalate phytoliths in prehistoric diet of the lower Pecos region, Texas. Am J Phys Anthropol 1998;107(3):297-304. View abstract.
Du Toit PJ. Isolation and partial characterization of a protease from Agave americana variegata. Biochim Biophys Acta 1976;429(3):895-911. View abstract.
Golan H, Landau M, Goldberg I, et al. [Dermatitis from contact with Agave americana]. Harefuah 2000;139(7-8):276-8, 326. View abstract.
High WA. Agave contact dermatitis. Am J Contact Dermat 2003;14(4):213-214. View abstract.
Kerner J, Mitchell J, Maibach HI. Irritant contact dermatitis from Agave americana L. Incorrect use of sap as "hair restorer". Arch Dermatol 1973;108(1):102-103. View abstract.
Narro-Robles J, Gutierrez-Avila JH, Lopez-Cervantes M, et al. [Liver cirrhosis mortality in Mexico. II. Excess mortality and pulque consumption]. Salud Publica Mex 1992;34(4):388-405. View abstract.
Peana AT, Moretti MD, Manconi V, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extracts and steroidal sapogenins of Agave americana. Planta Med 1997;63(3):199-202. View abstract.
Ricks MR, Vogel PS, Elston DM, et al. Purpuric agave dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;40(2 Pt 2):356-358. View abstract.
Villarreal R, Martinez O, Berumen U, Jr. Phytobezoar from the stem ("quiote") of the cactus Agave americana: report of case. Am J Gastroenterol 1985;80(11):838-840. View abstract.
Yokosuka A, Mimaki Y, Kuroda M, et al. A new steroidal saponin from the leaves of Agave americana. Planta Med 2000;66(4):393-396. View abstract.
Basilio CM, Seyler L, Bernstein J, et al. Isolation and characterization of an utero-active compound from Agave americana. P R Health Sci J 1989;8(3):295-299. View abstract.
Borup LH, Meehan JJ, Severson JM, et al. Terminal spine of agave plant extracted from patient's spinal cord. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2003;181(4):1155-1156. View abstract.
Brazzelli V, Romano E, Balduzzi A, et al. Acute irritant contact dermatitis from Agave americana L. Contact Dermatitis 1995;33(1):60-61. View abstract.
Brenner S, Landau M, Goldberg I. Contact dermatitis with systemic symptoms from Agave americana. Dermatology 1998;196(4):408-411. View abstract.
Cherpelis BS, Fenske NA. Purpuric irritant contact dermatitis induced by Agave americana. Cutis 2000;66(4):287-8. View abstract.
Crawford GH, Eickhorst KM, McGovern TW. Botanical briefs: the century plant--Agave americana L. Cutis 2003;72(3):188-90. View abstract.
Du Toit PJ. Isolation and partial characterization of a protease from Agave americana variegata. Biochim Biophys Acta 1976;429(3):895-911. View abstract.
Golan H, Landau M, Goldberg I, et al. [Dermatitis from contact with Agave americana]. Harefuah 2000;139(7-8):276-8, 326. View abstract.
High WA. Agave contact dermatitis. Am J Contact Dermat 2003;14(4):213-214. View abstract.
Kerner J, Mitchell J, Maibach HI. Irritant contact dermatitis from Agave americana L. Incorrect use of sap as "hair restorer". Arch Dermatol 1973;108(1):102-103. View abstract.
Misra AK, Varma SK, Kumar R. Anti-inflammatory effect of an extract of Agave americana on experimental animals. Pharmacognosy Res. 2018;10(1):104-8. View abstract.
Peana AT, Moretti MD, Manconi V, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extracts and steroidal sapogenins of Agave americana. Planta Med 1997;63(3):199-202. View abstract.
Ricks MR, Vogel PS, Elston DM, et al. Purpuric agave dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;40(2 Pt 2):356-358. View abstract.
Villarreal R, Martinez O, Berumen U, Jr. Phytobezoar from the stem ("quiote") of the cactus Agave americana: report of case. Am J Gastroenterol 1985;80(11):838-840. View abstract.
Yokosuka A, Mimaki Y, Kuroda M, et al. A new steroidal saponin from the leaves of Agave americana. Planta Med 2000;66(4):393-396. View abstract.
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