This Article Full Text (OnlineFirst PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1534735408330202v1 8/1/29    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Engdal, S. Articles by Nilsen, O. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Engdal, S. Articles by Nilsen, O. G. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Identification and Exploration of Herb-Drug Combinations Used by Cancer Patients

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: silje.engdal{at}ntnu.no.

	Abstract

Introduction: This survey aims to identify herb-chemotherapeutic drug combinations in a defined group of cancer patients and to explore possible clinical consequences of these combinations. Methods: Herb-chemotherapeutic drug combinations were identified among adult cancer patients, and clinical consequences of the combinations were explored by literature searches in medical databases on possible mutual effects on similar cytochrome P-450 metabolising enzymes (CYPs) and/or the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter. Results: Among 42 cancer patients using herbal remedies concurrently with chemotherapy, 136 two-agent herb-drug combinations were registered and 47 different potential herb-drug interactions were identified on the level of CYP metabolism and P-gp transport in vitro. Garlic, ginger, green tea and noni juice were the herbal remedies most frequently used in such combinations. For 48 % of the herbal remedies identified no literature data exist on their interaction potentials. Clinical studies were available for four herbal remedies only. Minor clinical potential for CYP interactions in humans was indicated for green tea and Echinacea. P-gp interactions were only investigated for garlic, which showed a significant interaction potential both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: The large number of in vitro potential herb-drug interactions identified urge for more clinical pharmacokinetic interaction studies in humans.

First published on January 27, 2009, doi:10.1177/1534735408330202

Integrative Cancer Therapies 2009;8:29.

A more recent version of this article appeared on March 1, 2009


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?