title: From prejudice to evidence: the case of rhizoma coptidis in singapore.
abstract: Rhizoma Coptidis (RC), commonly known as huanglian, is a herb frequently used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) prescriptions. Known to have "clearing damp-heat, quenching fire and counteracting poison" properties, it was widely used in the Chinese community in Singapore. Berberine, an alkaloid isolated from RC, is known to have a wide array of therapeutic effects including antimicrobial, antineoplastic, and hepatoprotective effects. In 1978, RC was implicated in causing neonatal jaundice (NNJ) and kernicterus in neonates suffering from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, leading to the banning of RC and berberine in Singapore. More than three decades later, accumulating evidence-based studies pointing to the safety of RC for general public and better understanding of G6PD deficiency, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in Singapore reviewed and lifted the prohibition on RC and berberine, turning a brand new chapter in the history of TCM in Singapore. This paper aims to review the safety of RC and berberine, using the prohibition of use and subsequent lifting of ban on RC and berberine in Singapore as an illustration to highlight the importance of evidence-based studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
authors.affiliation: Dongfang Hospital, Second Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6, District 1, Fangxingyuan, Fangzhuang, Fengtai District, Beijing 100078, China ; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798.
authors.forename: Chin Ee
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4494-7787
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798 ; School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 11 North East Third Ring Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: You Li
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1789-8289
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: Dongfang Hospital, Second Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6, District 1, Fangxingyuan, Fangzhuang, Fengtai District, Beijing 100078, China.
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang