Impact of African herbal medicines on antiretroviral metabolism

2004130 citationsJournal Article

Authors

Edward Mills · Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine

Brian C. Foster · AIDS Vancouver

Rolf van Heeswijk

Elizabeth Phillips · University of Toronto

Kumanan Wilson · University of Toronto

Blair Leonard · University of Toronto

Kazuhiro Kosuge · University of Toronto

Abstract

We examined the effects of two African herbal medicines recommended for HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral metabolism. Extracts from Hypoxis and Sutherlandia showed significant effects on cytochrome P450 3A4 metabolism and activated the pregnane X receptor approximately twofold. P-glycoprotein expression was inhibited, with Hypoxis showing 42-51% and Sutherlandia showing 19-31% of activity compared with verapamil. Initiating policies to provide herbal medicines with antiretroviral agents may put patients at risk of treatment failure, viral resistance or drug toxicity.

Topics & Keywords

HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms Pharmacological Effects and Toxicity Studies

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Good health and well-being

Publication Details

Published in: AIDS

Volume 19, Issue 1, pp. 95-97

DOI: 10.1097/00002030-200501030-00013

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 3.36