Unpredictable adverse effects of herbal products

Basaran N., PASLI D., Basaran A. A.

FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY, vol.159, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 159
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112762
  • Journal Name: FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, EMBASE, Environment Index, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MEDLINE, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database
  • Keywords: Herbal products, Adverse reactions, Interactions, Adulteration, Contaminants, ST-JOHNS-WORT, PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY, DIETARY-SUPPLEMENTS, DRUG-INTERACTIONS, MASS-SPECTROMETRY, WEIGHT-LOSS, PHARMACOKINETIC INTERACTIONS, PRESCRIBED DRUGS, SIBUTRAMINE, EXTRACT
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Herbal products are being increasingly used all over the world for preventive and therapeutic purposes because of the belief of their safety. They have become an important part of health care system in many countries since they can easily be purchased in the health food stores or online. However, the lack of sufficient study on their efficacy and toxicity, inadequate controls of their availability, reduce their safety. Unlike conventional drugs, herbal products are not regulated for purity and potency. Herbal products contain substances which can induce or inhibit enzymes that take part in drug metabolism. Therefore the concurrent use of drugs with some medicinal plants can cause serious adverse effects and can also decrease the efficacy of the therapy. Particularly, drugs with narrow therapeutic index and plants which can affect drug metabolizing enzymes when used together, may lead to unpredictable adverse reactions. Impurities, contaminants and adulterants found in the herbal products, are the most common malpractises in herbal raw-material trade. In this review the unpredictable adverse effects of herbal products due to their possible interactions with drugs and also due to the adulteration and contamination with prohibited chemicals will be discussed in detail.