Amaranth - Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) Interaction
Herbal: Amaranth
Also Known As: Amaranthus blitum, Amaranthus caudatus, Amaranthus cruentus, Amaranto, Chua, Huantli, Huatlí, Kantanoty, Lady Bleeding, Love-Lies-Bleeding, Lovely Bleeding, Pilewort, Prickly Amaranth, Prince's Feather, Rajgira, Ramdana, Red Cockscomb, Red Spinach, Rhamdana, Royal Grain, Smo
Drug: Pembrolizumab
Brand names:
Keytruda
Medical Content Editor Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Last updated
May 25, 2025
Interaction Details
There were no interactions found between Pembrolizumab and Amaranth. This does not mean the potential for an interaction does not exist, however. There is often a lack of studies and data surrounding traditional medicine, especially concerning drug interactions, so it is important to always consult your provider before making any changes to your medication regimen.
Amaranth Overview
Amaranth is a diverse group of plants found in lowlands, wastelands, and gardens, with some species yielding seeds used as pseudocereals or for oil. Others, like Amaranthus dubius and Amaranthus tricolor, have large leaves used as vegetables. Common medicinal varieties include Amaranthus roxburghianus and Amaranthus spinosus.
The whole amaranth plant is used medicinally. Its leaves contain some vitamin C and beta-carotene, with Amaranthus tricolor leaves also providing calcium, iron, and zinc. Amaranth seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), including linoleic, alpha-linolenic, and oleic acids, along with saturated fatty acids (SFAs) like palmitic and stearic acids, in a 1:3 SFA to UFA ratio, and also contains squalene, tocopherols, and sterols.
Amaranth seeds, used as pseudocereals, are high in protein, vitamin E, antioxidant phenols, and minerals like iron. Amaranthus hypochondriacus seeds contain bioactive peptides like lunasin, vicilin, and 11S globulin. Amaranthus roxburghianus roots contain eugenol, benzene derivatives, and 3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydropyran-4-one, while Amaranthus spinosus bark contains betacyanins, quercetin, kaempferol, and amaranthoside.
Pembrolizumab Overview
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Pembrolizumab injection is used alone or in combination with other chemotherapy medications to treat certain types of melanoma (a type of skin cancer), Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC; a type of skin cancer), and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC; skin cancer). It is also used to prevent the return of melanoma after surgery. Pembrolizumab injection is also used alone and/or in combination with other chemotherapy medications to treat certain types of lung cancer (non-small-cell lung cancer; NSCLC), head and neck cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease), primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL; non-Hodgkin lymphoma), urothelial cancer (cancer of the lining of the bladder and other parts of the urinary tract), bladder cancer, colorectal cancer (cancer that begins in the large intestine), gastric cancer (cancer of the stomach), esophageal cancer (cancer of the tube that connects your throat to your stomach), cervical cancer (cancer that begins in the opening of the uterus [womb]), cancer of the endometrium (lining of the uterus), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; a type of liver cancer), renal cell carcinoma (RCC, a type of cancer that begins in the kidneys), breast cancer, and certain other solid tumors. Pembrolizumab injection is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It works by helping your immune system to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
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Your doctor will review your specific type of cancer and past treatment history and other available treatments to determine if pembrolizumab is right for you.
Amaranth - More Interactions
Amaranth interacts with 0 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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