title: Liver injury associated with the use of Fructus Psoraleae (Bol-gol-zhee or Bu-gu-zhi) and its related proprietary medicine.
abstract: Fructus Psoraleae (FP) is used by herbalists for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, vitiligo, and psoriasis. It is used alone, or in combination with other herbs, in some countries in the form of proprietary medicine. It is recognized as one of the emerging hepatotoxins and here we report three cases of acute hepatitis after exposed to FP and its related proprietary medicine. It seems possible that psoralen and its related chemicals may be responsible for the hepatotoxicity. Decoction with other herbs may result in higher concentration of toxic constituents and in more severe liver injury. In summary, FP is associated with hepatotoxicity in some individuals. Pharmacovigilance for the potential side effects of herbal products is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China. cheungwi@ha.org.hk
authors.forename: Wing I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Man Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ngan
authors.forename: Jieru
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ws Ken
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wing Tat
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: Tony Wl
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Vincent King Sun
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Tai Nin
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Chau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D019963:Clinical Chemistry Tests; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D029907:Psoralea / Q000506:poisoning*; D012639:Seeds / Q000506:poisoning; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin