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.