Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026
Field Identification of Matricaria chamomilla using a Portable qPCR System
Published on: October 10, 2020
Herbal Remedies in Global Health Care: Classification, Toxicology, and Clinical Management
Vanessa Steenkamp1, Hafiza Parkar1, Boitumelo Raphiri1
1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Purpose:
Traditional herbal medicines are crucial in the health care system worldwide, particularly for individuals with chronic illnesses. These remedies are commonly classified by purpose, composition, mechanism of action, and origin, with the World Health Organization outlining 4 main categories: indigenous herbal medicines, those used in traditional systems, modified herbal medicines, and imported herbal products. The authors explored the toxicology of commonly used herbal remedies, including their mechanisms, signs and symptoms of toxicity, and treatment strategies.
Methods:
Literature was searched using different published resources and databases, PubMed and ScienceDirect. The searched terms included "herbal medicine," "herbal remedies," "traditional medicine systems," "herbal toxicity," "herbal toxicity mechanism of action/toxicity," among others. The searches were limited to the English language, with no restrictions on publication date.
Results:
The perception that herbal medicines are inherently safe is misleading. Herbal remedies can be toxic due to the plant's intrinsic properties or through contamination and adulteration. Moreover, 15%-20% of individuals on prescription drugs concurrently use herbal supplements, increasing the risk of harmful interactions. Incidence of herb-induced toxicities, particularly hepatotoxicity, is related to the use of Kava, Chaparral, Comfrey, Germander, and green tea extract. Moreover, cardiovascular toxicity due to Chan Su and oleander-containing herbal remedy use is detected by assessing serum digoxin concentration and is treated with Digibind. Although advances in modern formulations and increased regulatory oversight have improved safety, shortcomings remain, particularly in public awareness and standardized regulations.
Conclusions:
Comprehensive clinical management, patient education, and integration of traditional medicine into mainstream health care ensures safe, effective, and responsible use of herbal products.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:17Antidotes
Specific antidotes operate by inhibiting the enzymes that control biochemical pathways, reducing the production of harmful metabolites.
An example of an antidote is atropine, which counteracts the detrimental effects of cholinesterase inhibitors. It achieves this by deactivating muscarinic receptors,...
01:27Effects of Chemicals: Overview
01:26Toxic Reactions: Overview
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
01:26Enhanced Elimination of Poison
Antidotes serve a crucial role in counteracting the effects of poison by inhibiting enzymes responsible for producing harmful drug metabolites. In some cases, these toxic metabolites can be neutralized by endogenous cosubstrates, which are maintained at specific concentrations to prevent interaction with cellular macromolecules and subsequent cell death.
Renal excretion is the...
01:36Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
01:29Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors