Challenges in herbal-induced liver injury identification and prevention

Herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) are being used worldwide at an increasing rate. Mirroring this trend, HDS-induced liver injury, also known as HDS-induced liver injury (HILI), has increased significantly over the past three decades in the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN), now accounting for 20% of cases of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). There are significant challenges in the identification and prevention of HILI due to varying presentations, ability to make clear diagnosis, identification of the responsible ingredient, lack of treatment, and lack of regulatory oversight of HDS products to confirm their ingredients and ensure safety. The major implicated agents include anabolic steroids, green tea extract, garcinia cambogia, kratom, ashwagandha, turmeric and multi-ingredient nutritional supplements. Fortunately, with the formation of major DILI consortiums across the world, the last decade has seen advances in the identification of at-risk genetic phenotypes, the use of chemical analysis on multi-ingredient nutritional supplements, and the publication of data/injury patterns of potentially risky HDS.