Open AccessHerbal medicine-related hepatotoxicity
Author(s) -
Evangelos Stournaras,
Κωνσταντίνος Τζιόμαλος
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
world journal of hepatology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 55
ISSN - 1948-5182
DOI - 10.4254/wjh.v7.i19.2189
Subject(s) - medicine , alternative medicine , liver injury , traditional medicine , vigilance (psychology) , intensive care medicine , liver toxicity , suspect , toxicity , pharmacology , pathology , neuroscience , biology , political science , law
Herbal medicine products represent a common therapeutic approach in the East and are gaining increasing popularity in Western countries. They are unjustifiably considered to be side-effect free; on the contrary, severe toxicity, including catastrophic hepatic injury has been reported in association with their use. Vigilance is required from both physicians and the general public. Physicians should always suspect herbal medicines when evaluating a patient with unexplained liver injury. Regulation standards for herbal products need to be reconsidered, so that the efficacy and safety of these products have been clearly demonstrated before they enter the markets.