There was no aloe vera in store-brand aloe gel products bought at Wal-Mart, Target and CVS, according to researchers hired by Bloomberg News.

The products all listed aloe barbadensis leaf juice -- another name for aloe vera -- as either the first ingredient or the second after water.

The presence of aloe in aloe gel sold at Walgreens could not be confirmed or ruled out by the lab tests, Bloomberg reported.

Target Corp. refused comment, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc., CVS Health Corp. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. said their suppliers assured them their aloe gel products were authentic.

There is no government oversight of aloe gels or other products such as drinks and vitamins. Last year, the U.S. market for aloe products was $146 million, according to Chicago-based market researcher SPINS LLC, Bloomberg reported.