Pharmacological interactions involving drugs and four common medicinal plants used in Nigerian traditional medicine.
Peter Achunike Akah1* and Marcellus Ejike Nnamani2
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
- National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Abuja, Nigeria
| Key words:
Medicinal plants, herb-drug interaction, conventional drugs, health professionals. .
*Corresponding author: peter.akah@unn.edu.ng; Page No.: 109-114 Volume: 2, Issue 2 2021 Trends in Natural Products Research Copy Right: NAPREG |
Abstract Concomitant use of medicinal plants and conventional drugs may cause adverse events. Evidence available in literature indicates various mechanisms through which this can occur. By interacting with conventional medication, herbal remedies may precipitate manifestations of toxicity or in the other extreme, therapeutic failure. A good knowledge of the potential of commonly consumed herbal medicines to interact with prescription medicines, irrespective of the nature of evidence available, will equip health professionals in the practice. Apart from those demonstrated in significant number of human subjects, not all reported HDIs are clinically significant. As such more clinically relevant research in this area is necessary. Therefore, medicinal plants should be used concomitantly with conventional drugs with caution. |