Liver injury associated with the use of Fructus Psoraleae (Bol-gol-zhee or Bu-gu-zhi) and its related proprietary medicine.
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.
Cheung
Wing I
WI
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China. cheungwi@ha.org.hk
Tse
Man Li
ML
Ngan
Teresa
T
Lin
Jieru
J
Lee
Ws Ken
WK
Poon
Wing Tat
WT
Mak
Tony Wl
TW
Leung
Vincent King Sun
VK
Chau
Tai Nin
TN
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
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin