title: Cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and herbal medicines: the risk of drug interaction.
abstract: Use of herbal medicines among patients under cardiovascular pharmacotherapy is widespread. In this paper, we have reviewed the literature to determine the possible interactions between herbal medicines and cardiovascular drugs. The Medline database was searched for clinical articles published between January 1996 and February 2003. Forty-three case reports and eight clinical trials were identified. Warfarin was the most common cardiovascular drug involved. It was found to interact with boldo, curbicin, fenugreek, garlic, danshen, devil's claw, don quai, ginkgo, papaya, lycium, mango, PC-SPES (resulting in over-anticoagulation) and with ginseng, green tea, soy and St. John's wort (causing decreased anticoagulant effect). Gum guar, St. John's wort, Siberian ginseng and wheat bran were found to decrease plasma digoxin concentration; aspirin interactions include spontaneous hyphema when associated with ginkgo and increased bioavailability if combined with tamarind. Decreased plasma concentration of simvastatin or lovastatin was observed after co-administration with St. John's wort and wheat bran, respectively. Other adverse events include hypertension after co-administration of ginkgo and a diuretic thiazide, hypokalemia after liquorice and antihypertensives and anticoagulation after phenprocoumon and St. John's wort. Interaction between herbal medicine and cardiovascular drugs is a potentially important safety issue. Patients taking anticoagulants are at the highest risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples "Federico II", via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy. aaizzo@unina.it
authors.forename: Angelo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borrelli
authors.forename: Edzard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ernst
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001682:Biological Availability; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000378:metabolism; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors