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Drug–drug interactions can precipitate toxicity through multiple mechanisms. Absorption interactions alter how drugs enter the body, exemplified when ranitidine increases the absorption of basic drugs, while cholestyramine decreases the levels of propranolol. Protein binding interactions occur when drugs share the same binding sites on plasma proteins. Drugs like aspirin and warfarin, when bound in excess, can lead to increased free drug concentrations, enhancing the potential for...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Field Identification of Matricaria chamomilla using a Portable qPCR System

Field Identification of Matricaria chamomilla using a Portable qPCR System

Published on: October 10, 2020

Drug interactions with herbal medicines.

Shaojun Shi¹, Ulrich Klotz

¹Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China.

Clinical Pharmacokinetics

|January 20, 2012

Summary

Herbal medicine-drug interactions pose risks, especially for medications with a narrow therapeutic index. Understanding these interactions, often involving cytochrome P450 enzymes and drug transporters, is crucial for patient safety.

Area of Science:

Pharmacology
Pharmacokinetics
Herbal Medicine

Background:

Herbal medicine-drug interactions are a growing concern, particularly for patients on narrow therapeutic index drugs.
These interactions can lead to unpredictable adverse events and reduced treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

To summarize known herbal medicine-drug interactions.
To highlight interactions involving cytochrome P450 enzymes and drug transporters.
To present potential interactions of common herbal medicines with conventional drugs.

Main Methods:

Review of in vitro studies, animal studies, case reports, and clinical trials.
Focus on inhibition or induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes and drug transporters.
Presentation of interactions for black cohosh, garlic, Ginkgo, goldenseal, kava, milk thistle, Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, saw palmetto, and St John's wort.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 25, 2026

Field Identification of Matricaria chamomilla using a Portable qPCR System

Field Identification of Matricaria chamomilla using a Portable qPCR System

Published on: October 10, 2020

Main Results:

A significant number of herbal medicine-drug interactions have been reported.
Many interactions are difficult to predict, with some studies yielding contradictory results.
Interactions involve both pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic mechanisms.

Conclusions:

Clinical implications vary based on co-administered drugs, patient factors, herbal product origin, composition, and dosage.
Further controlled studies are essential to elucidate interaction mechanisms and optimize herbal medicine use.
Predicting and managing these interactions requires careful consideration of multiple factors.