North-West University, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences , Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520 , South Africa +27 18 299 4035 ; +27 87 231 5432 ;
Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2014 Jul;10(7):991-1003. doi: 10.1517/17425255.2014.920321. Epub 2014 May 15.
Africa is a continent of rich plant biodiversity with many indigenous plants having a long history of being used for medicinal purposes. A considerable number of patients consult traditional healers in African countries for their primary health-care needs. As Western medicines become more available through governmental programmes to treat diseases such as infections with HIV/AIDS, patients are faced with an increased potential of herb-drug interactions.
Several medicinal herbs indigenous to Africa are discussed in terms of their effects on pharmacokinetics of allopathic drugs through modulation of enzymes and active transporters. Clinically relevant herb-drug interactions obtained from in vivo studies are discussed, with data from in vitro studies also included to ensure a complete review.
Traditional herbal medicines are often used under a false sense of security because of the perception that it is safe due to its natural origin. The potential for interactions between herbal and allopathic drugs is often neglected. Data on clinically relevant herb-drug interactions from clinical trials can be used to educate health-care workers and patients, contributing to improved therapeutic outcomes.
非洲是一个植物生物多样性丰富的大陆，许多本土植物有着悠久的药用历史。在非洲国家，相当多的患者会向传统治疗师寻求基本的医疗服务。随着政府计划提供更多的西药来治疗艾滋病等传染病，患者面临着药物相互作用的潜在风险增加。
本文讨论了几种非洲本土药用植物，它们通过调节酶和主动转运体对西药的药代动力学产生影响。讨论了从体内研究中获得的临床相关草药-药物相互作用，并纳入了体外研究的数据，以确保全面的综述。
由于传统观念认为天然药物是安全的，因此经常在一种错误的安全感下使用传统草药。草药和西药之间相互作用的可能性往往被忽视。来自临床试验的关于临床相关草药-药物相互作用的数据可用于教育医护人员和患者，有助于改善治疗效果。
