Herbal medicines Flashcards
What is the licensing issue with herbal medicine health claims?
Cannot make medicinal health claims e.g. cannot claim to cure, treat or prevent disease
Can have health claims
Licensing requirements of herbal medicines
- Registered as traditional herbal medicines (manufactured products)
- Have marketing authorisation (some)
- Or unlicensed (herbal practitioners)
What are the requirements to be registered/licensed as a traditional herbal medicines?
- Produce bibliographic or expert evidence of traditional use
- Medicinal use for at least 30 years
- At least 15 of the 30 years must relate to the EU (Replaces requirement to demonstrate efficacy)
What is the use of St John’s Wort?
Anti-depressant
Treat mild-moderate depression
Anti-depressant action seems to be due to hyperforin (Pure hyperforin has antidepressant actions)
Reduces plasma concentrations of number of drugs including:
- Simvastatin
- Theophylline
- Digoxin
- Warfarin
- Oral contraceptives
- Cyclosporin
Interactions could lead to serious consequences depending on the patient and co-morbidity.
e.g. kidney transplant rejection in patient taking cyclosporine
What are the drug interactions of St John’s Wort?
Induce CYP450 enzymes
Report of woman taking SJW for 10 days then took peroxetine 20mg (another anti-depressant)
- Complained of nausea, fatigue and incoherent
- diagnosis of serotonin syndrome
How does herbal medicines affect drug action?
Effects absorption
Pharmacodynamic effects
Metabolism (Phase 2)/elimination
Herbal medicines can affect phase ______ metabolism.
2
Health risk of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs)
Toxic herbs e.g. Aristolochia (kidney damage) Contamination e.g. heavy metals Illegal compounds e.g. human placenta POMS e.g. sibutamine in slimming pills
Qinghao - TCM (Herbal medicine can be a source of new drugs)
Treat bone steaming and heat vexation, plus malaria From Artemisia annua (contains artemisinin)
