title: Natural products-friends or foes?
abstract: A trend in the general population has been observed in recent years regarding the orientation toward preventive measures in health; in this context the increased interest from the users and researchers concerning the active effect of food supplements on the health state and on longevity, is noticeable. All over the world, the consumption of natural foods and of vegetal supplements has increased spectacularly over the last 5-10 years. The decreased prevalence of cardio-vascular diseases associated with Mediterranean diet, as well as the French paradox convinced researchers to scientifically document the beneficial outcomes pointed out by traditional use of plants, and to try to develop supplements that would have the same positive effects as these noticed for diet components. The intense research dedicated to this topic revealed the fact that food supplements are linked to some problematic aspects, such as toxicological side effects when associated with classical synthetic drugs. The food supplement-drug interactions are submitted to complex issues regarding pharmacokinetic interactions leading to changes in absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion processes with direct impact on effect and toxicological potential. The present review based on recent literature aims at discussing the food-drug interactions with direct impact on efficacy and toxicity of drugs.
authors.affiliation: Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia St., 020956 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Denisa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Margină
authors.affiliation: Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia St., 020956 Bucharest, Romania. Electronic address: mihaela.ilie@umf.ro.
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilie
authors.affiliation: Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia St., 020956 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grădinaru
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Sciences & Toxicology, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasilis P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Androutsopoulos
authors.affiliation: University of Thessaly, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Larisa, Greece.
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kouretas
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Sciences & Toxicology, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Aristidis M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tsatsakis
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D032083:Citrus paradisi; D003474:Curcumin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D002338:Carotenoids; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Diet components; Food supplements; Food–drug interactions; Toxic outcomes