Title:Herb-Drug Interactions in Neurological Disorders: A Critical Appraisal
Volume: 19
Issue: 5
Author(s): Vinu Wilson and Subir Kumar Maulik*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (A.I.I.M.S.), Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029,India
Keywords:
Herb-drug interactions, neurological disorders, ginkgo, ginseng, St. John’s wort, grapefruit, black and long pepper, curcumin,
brahmi, kava, garlic, valerian.
Abstract: Background: Herbal drugs are being used worldwide in a variety of debilitating neurological and psychiatric
disorders such as cerebrovascular accident, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. However,
unlike drugs of modern medicine, herbal drugs are complex products containing multiple pharmacologically
active constituents. The nature and relative amounts of these constituents vary due to diverse factors such as but not
limited to source of the plant(s), local environmental conditions, parts of the plant used, storage, method of extract
preparation, accidental contamination or intentional adulteration. Further, they are handled by the human body like
modern drugs and subjected to the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. In each of these
processes, they can potentially interact with modern drugs due to sharing of similar transport proteins, metabolizing
cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes and uptake / efflux pumps. Moreover, herbal drugs can also inhibit or induce
CYP450 enzymes or inactivate transporters leading to Herb-Drug interactions (HDIs).
Method: In this narrative review, we have analyzed the clinically reported as well as potential HDIs between 10
common herbal drugs viz. Ginkgo, Ginseng, St. John's Wort, Grapefruit, Black and Long Pepper, Curcumin, Brahmi,
Kava, Garlic and Valerian and modern medicines used in neurological and psychiatric disorders with their proven or
postulated underlying mechanism(s).
Results: Though a number of potential pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic HDIs have been examined, clinically
significant alteration of response to modern medicines and/or serious adverse effects are apparently scarce
except for Grapefruit and St. John's Wort.
Conclusion: Physicians and patients should exercise caution when using herbal drugs and modern medicines concomitantly
so that the recognized serious HDIs can be avoided.