3.5 Frequency and types of herb-drug interactions
Based on the findings, 128 pairs of herbs and drugs can lead to potential herb-drug interactions. Of them, 19 and 116 pairs of herbs and drugs caused potential minor and moderate herb-drug interactions among cancer patients. In this study no major herb-drug interaction was found. Potential moderate herb-drug interactions occurred in all patients (n=209, 100%), while potential minor herb-drug interactions happened in less than a third of the patients (n=67, 32.1%). The frequent potential minor and moderate herb-drug interaction was caused by Camellia sinensis L. (green tea) (n=34, 16.3%) and Mentha piperita L . (peppermint) (n=78, 37.5%), respectively when used in combination with Cyclophosphamide. Among herbal medicines,Camellia sinensis L. (green tea), Matricaria chamomilla L.(chamomile), Curcuma longa L. (Turmeric) and Silybum marianum L.Gaertn (milk thistle) caused both potential minor and moderate herb-drug interactions. Potential minor and moderate herb-drug interactions are detailed in Appendix A.