Herbal medicines in Brazil: pharmacokinetic profile and potential herb-drug interactions.

ABSTRACT: A plethora of active compounds found in herbal medicines can serve as substrate for enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics. When a medicinal plant is co-administered with a conventional drug and little or no information is known about the pharmacokinetics of the plant metabolites, there is an increased risk of potential herb-drug interactions. Moreover, genetic polymorphisms in a population may act to predispose individuals to adverse reactions. The use of herbal medicines is rapidly increasing in many countries, particularly Brazil where the vast biodiversity is a potential source of new and more affordable treatments for numerous conditions. Accordingly, the Brazilian Unified Public Health System (SUS) produced a list of 71 plant species of interest, which could be made availa

SUBMITTER: Mazzari AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4087670 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature