["Dosis solum facit venenum" also for herbal products].

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Toxicology
• Ethnobotany

Background:

• Widespread use of plants for food promotes a perception of inherent safety in herbal products.
• The development of organic chemistry enabled isolation, identification, and synthesis of potent plant-derived compounds.
• A case of severe hepatitis from Chelidonium majus highlights potential life-threatening risks of herbal remedies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To underscore the potential dangers of herbal products.
• To contrast the perceived safety of traditional plant medicines with modern pharmaceuticals.
• To emphasize the need for scientific evaluation of herbal medicine composition and effects.

Main Methods:

• Review of a case report on severe hepatitis linked to Chelidonium majus.
• Discussion of historical and scientific advancements in understanding plant-derived compounds.
• Analysis of regulatory and philosophical differences between phytotherapy and conventional medicine.

Main Results:

• Chelidonium majus can induce severe adverse health effects, such as hepatitis.
• Pharmacologically active constituents from plants can be synthesized into potent drugs (e.g., artemotil).
• The safety and efficacy of plant-derived compounds can be controlled similarly to synthetic drugs.

Conclusions:

• Herbal products carry significant risks and are not universally safer than synthetic drugs.
• The composition, not the origin, determines the effects and safety of medicinal preparations.
• Current public health legislation inadequately addresses the quality and composition of herbal medicines from alternative sources.