A case of acute cholestatic hepatitis associated with the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia (Boh-Gol-Zhee).
The potential hepatotoxicity of herbal remedies is usually ignored in daily life. One such compound, Boh-Gol-Zhee (in Chinese, Bu Ku Zi), appeared to be associated with the occurrence of acute cholestatic hepatic injury in the following case. Some alternative medicine therapists claim that Psoralea corylifolia is effective for the treatment of osteoporosis. We observed a case of acute cholestatic hepatitis associated with the use of the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia in amounts over 10 times the usual dose in a postmenopausal woman. Liver biopsy showed zone three necroses, degenerating cells, cholestasis, and infiltrations with inflammatory cells. This case stresses the need to warn of the potential hepatotoxicity of the seed of Psoralea corylifolia, especially in a large dose.
Nam
Soon Woo
SW
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College of the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Baek
Jong Tae
JT
Lee
Dong Soo
DS
Kang
Sang Bum
SB
Ahn
Byung Min
BM
Chung
Kyu Won
KW
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000150:complications*; D029907:Psoralea; D012639:Seeds