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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Human Liver Microphysiological System for Assessing Drug-Induced Liver Toxicity In Vitro
Published on: January 31, 2022
Hepatitis after germander (Teucrium chamaedrys) administration: another instance of herbal medicine hepatotoxicity
1Service des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, Montpellier, France.
Objective:
To show that germander (Teucrium chamaedrys), an herbal medicine used to facilitate weight loss, may be hepatotoxic and to delineate the nature of the injury.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
Liver units of several centers in the French Network of Pharmacovigilance.
Patients:
Seven patients who developed hepatitis after germander administration and who had no other cause of liver injury.
Measurements:
Clinical examination, liver function tests, various serologic tests, ultrasonography, and histologic study.
Results:
Hepatitis characterized by jaundice and a marked increase in serum aminotransferase levels occurred 3 to 18 weeks after germander administration. Liver biopsy specimens in three patients showed hepatocyte necrosis. After discontinuing treatment with germander, jaundice disappeared within 8 weeks and recovery was complete in 1.5 to 6 months. In three cases, germander readministration was followed by the prompt recurrence of hepatitis.
Conclusion:
Germander may be hepatotoxic, which supports the view that herbal medicines are not always as safe as generally assumed.
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