Jiaogulan - Actemra (Tocilizumab) Interaction
Herbal: Jiaogulan
Also Known As: Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Adaptogen, Adaptogène, Amachazuru, Dungkulcha, Fairy Herb, Ginseng du Sud, Gynostemma, Herbe de l'Immortalité, Immortality Herb, Jiao Chu Lan, Jiao Gu Lan, Miracle Grass, Penta Tea, Plante de l'Immortalité, Southern Ginseng
Drug: Tocilizumab
Brand names:
Actemra
Medical Content Editor Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Last updated
May 26, 2024
Interaction Details
Tocilizumab is classified as belonging to the following category: Immunosuppressants
Theoretically, jiaogulan might decrease the effectiveness of immunosuppressive therapy.
Clinical and animal studies suggest that jiaogulan can stimulate the immune system.
Interaction Rating
Likelihood of Occurrence
PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
References
- The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
- Li Y, Lin W, Huang J, Xie Y, Ma W. Anti-cancer effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (Jiaogulan). Chin Med. 2016 Sep 27;11:43. Review.
Jiaogulan Overview
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a plant native to China and is known as "Southern Ginseng" or "Five-Leaf Gynostemma," due to its close resemblance to ginseng and the five leaflets on its leaves. It has also been called 'Miracle Plant'.
It is a climbing vine that grows in warm, humid regions and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a wide range of ailments, including fatigue, stress, high blood sugar and high blood pressure. It is also believed to have anti-aging and immune-boosting properties. Hundreds of different compounds have been found in Jiaogulan, some of which have found to be somewhat similar, or even identical, to those found in other plants, such as Panax ginseng.
Tocilizumab Overview
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Tocilizumab injection is used alone or in combination with other medications to relieve the symptoms of certain types of arthritis and other conditions including:
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rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain, swelling, and loss of function) in adults who have not been helped by other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs),
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giant cell arteritis (a condition that causes swelling of blood vessels, especially in the scalp and head) in adults,
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systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD; also known as scleroderma-associated ILD: a lung disease that involves scarring of the lungs) in adults,
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polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA; a type of childhood arthritis that affects five or more joints during the first six months of the condition, causing pain, swelling, and loss of function) in children 2 years of age or older.
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systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA; a condition in children that causes inflammation in different areas of the body, causing fever, joint pain and swelling, loss of function, and delays in growth and development) in children 2 years of age or older,
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cytokine release syndrome (a severe and possibly life-threatening reaction) in adults and children 2 years of age or older after receiving certain immunotherapy infusions.
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Tocilizumab injection is in a class of medications called interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitors. It works by blocking the activity of interleukin-6, a substance in the body that causes inflammation.
Jiaogulan - More Interactions
Jiaogulan interacts with 311 drugs
Interaction Rating Key
These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
| Major | The combined use of these agents is strongly discouraged as serious side effects or other negative outcomes could occur. |
| Moderate | Use cautiously under the care of a healthcare professional or avoid this combination. A significant interaction or negative outcome could occur. |
| Minor | Be aware that there is a chance of an interaction. Watch for warning signs of a potential interaction. |
| Unknown | No interactions have been reported or no interaction data is currently available. |
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Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Drug descriptions are provided by MedlinePlus.
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Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
In addition to being a clinical pharmacist specializing in pharmacotherapy, Dr. Brian Staiger is a registered herbalist through the American Herbalist Guild. He has combined his passion for pharmacy practice with the study of medical ethnobotany to improve patient care. Feel free to reach out about any of your herbal or medication questions!
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