Herbal drug usage with modern medicine 1: Case study of an enzyme inducer, St John’s Wort – Some perspectives

Abstract

While the usage of herbal medicines continues to be on the rise, it brings along an imminent risk of drug-drug interaction with scores of modern day medicine(s). Th e focus of this article is to provide an overview of a potential drug-drug interaction resulting, due to induction of cytochrome P450 enzyme(s) and/or transporters, from the use of a popular herbal product known as St. John’s Wort (SJW) with modern day medicines. Also, it provides some perspectives and considerations in rationalizing the use of SJW. Key words: Cytochrome P450, induction, interaction, P-glycoprotein, pharmacokinetics, St. John’s Wort