Drug & supplement interaction

Apple Polyphenols + Interferon Alfa-2b

Interferon Alfa-2b brand names: Rebetron, Intron A, Viraferon.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Apple Polyphenols and Interferon Alfa-2b in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Apple Polyphenols and Interferon Alfa-2b

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Interferon Alfa-2b and Apple Polyphenols in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Apple Polyphenols safety at a glance

Apple Polyphenols overall Use caution Likely safe in food amounts; concentrated supplements are less studied for long-term use.
Pregnancy Use caution Apples as food are fine, but concentrated extracts have not been studied in pregnancy, so avoid supplements unless your doctor approves.
Breastfeeding Use caution There is not enough information on concentrated extracts during breastfeeding, so caution is advised.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Interferon Alfa-2b and Apple Polyphenols? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Interferon Alfa-2b

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Interferon Alfa-2b is filed under 2 classifications — photosensitizing drugs, hepatotoxic drugs. Apple Polyphenols has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being insulin (moderate) — and none of Interferon Alfa-2b’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Apple Polyphenols Does Interact With Other Medications

Apple Polyphenols has 13 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Interferon Alfa-2b isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 13 No known interaction 2,817 (incl. Interferon Alfa-2b)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Apple Polyphenols

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Apple Polyphenols. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

What Apple Polyphenols Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Interferon Alfa-2b. It is the side-effect record for Apple Polyphenols on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Apple Polyphenols, this list is the first place to look.

  • Diarrhea Additional detail

    “Orally, taking 600 mg apple polyphenols was reported to cause diarrhea and loose stools in one clinical study.”

    Apple Polyphenols · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    1 source cited
    1. 94863. Nagasako-Akazome Y, Kanda T, Ohtake Y, Shimasaki H, Kobayashi T. Apple polyphenols influence cholesterol metabolism in healthy subjects with relatively high body mass index. J Oleo Sci. 2007;56(8):417-28. PubMed
  • Headache Additional detail

    “Orally, apple polyphenols seem to be well tolerated. Some clinical studies have reported no adverse effects with apple polyphenols, while mild gastrointestinal effects, nasopharyngitis, and headache have been reported in other studies.”

    Apple Polyphenols · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    4 sources cited
    1. 94855. Akazome Y, Kametani N, Kanda T, et al. Evaluation of safety of excessive intake and efficacy of long-term intake of beverages containing apple polyphenols. J Oleo Sci. 2010;59(6):321-38. PubMed
    2. 94863. Nagasako-Akazome Y, Kanda T, Ohtake Y, Shimasaki H, Kobayashi T. Apple polyphenols influence cholesterol metabolism in healthy subjects with relatively high body mass index. J Oleo Sci. 2007;56(8):417-28. PubMed
    3. 94869. Tenore GC, Caruso D, Buonomo G, et al. A Healthy Balance of Plasma Cholesterol by a Novel Annurca Apple-Based Nutraceutical Formulation: Results of a Randomized Trial. J Med Food. 2017;20(3):288-300. PubMed
    4. 102020. Saarenhovi M, Salo P, Scheinin M, et al. The effect of an apple polyphenol extract rich in epicatechin and flavan-3-ol oligomers on brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatory function in volunteers with elevated blood pressure. Nutr. J 2017;16(1):73. PubMed

    “Orally, taking apple polyphenols may cause headache in some patients. In one clinical trial, around 26% of patients taking apple polyphenols 330 mg daily for 4 weeks reported headaches, although this adverse effect was also reported in nearly 24% of patients taking placebo.”

    Apple Polyphenols · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    1 source cited
    1. 102020. Saarenhovi M, Salo P, Scheinin M, et al. The effect of an apple polyphenol extract rich in epicatechin and flavan-3-ol oligomers on brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatory function in volunteers with elevated blood pressure. Nutr. J 2017;16(1):73. PubMed

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Apple Polyphenols — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Interferon Alfa-2b to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Interferon Alfa-2b.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Interferon Alfa-2b

This page covers Apple Polyphenols only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Interferon Alfa-2b page lists 57 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major), Alfalfa (moderate) and Angelica Archangelica (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 53 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Interferon Alfa-2b page

“People taking interferon alfa-2b (Intron A, Rebetron) are usually treating hepatitis or a cancer, so the liver may already be under strain, and that is exactly where most of this list points. Of the 57 supplements on file, 38 can add to liver stress, and all three major-rated interactions sit in that group: Siberian cocklebur, which ha…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Interferon Alfa-2b interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Apple Polyphenols and Interferon Alfa-2b Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Apple Polyphenols
Steady interest

#1,001 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Interferon Alfa-2b
Steady interest

#2,433 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Apple Polyphenols reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Apple Polyphenols and Interferon Alfa-2b records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Apple Polyphenols

What is Apple Polyphenols?

Apple Polyphenols
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Weight management
  • Antioxidant support
  • Blood sugar support
  • Skin health (topical)

Apple polyphenols are antioxidant plant compounds taken from apples and marketed for heart, weight, and blood sugar health. Early research is interesting, but there is not enough reliable human evidence to confirm these benefits. They appear generally safe in food-like amounts, but talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated supplements.

Malus domestica · Rosaceae · Fruit, peel, and pomace (sometimes unripe apples) · Capsules, tablets, powders, and standardized extracts

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Apple Polyphenols is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Apple Polyphenols record says about it on its own.

Apple Polyphenols: dosing

There is no standardized, well-established dose for apple polyphenols. Products vary widely in how much polyphenol they contain.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the suggested amount.

From our Apple Polyphenols monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Apple Polyphenols monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Interferon Alfa-2b Injection

What Is Interferon Alfa-2b Injection Used For?

Brand names: Rebetron, Intron A, Viraferon

  • Interferon alfa-2b injection is used to treat a number of conditions.

  • Interferon alfa-2b injection is used

    • alone or in combination with ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol, Ribasphere) to treat chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage,

    • to treat chronic hepatitis B infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage,

    • to treat hairy cell leukemia (a white blood cell cancer),

    • to treat genital warts,

    • to treat Kaposi's sarcoma (a type of cancer that causes abnormal tissue to grow on different parts of the body) related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS),

    • to treat malignant melanoma (a cancer that begins in certain skin cells) in certain people who have had surgery to remove the cancer,

    • along with another medication to treat follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL; a slow-growing blood cancer).

  • Interferon alfa-2b is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. Interferon alfa-2b works to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) by decreasing the amount virus in the body. Interferon alfa-2b may not cure hepatitis B or hepatitis C or prevent you from developing complications from these infections such as cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver failure, or liver cancer. It also may not prevent the spread of hepatitis B or C to other people. It is not known exactly how interferon alfa-2b works to treat cancer or genital warts.

See full Interferon Alfa-2b Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Apple Polyphenols

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Apple Polyphenols — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
13Moderate
0Minor
2,816No known interaction
13 Moderate 2,816 No interaction
Moderate

13 interactions

No interaction 2,816 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Apple Polyphenols against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,816 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Apple Polyphenols list.

See the full Apple Polyphenols interactions page
See every supplement checked against Interferon Alfa-2b, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Apple Polyphenols References

The 10 references that drive our Apple Polyphenols monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Akazome Y, Kametani N, Kanda T, et al. Evaluation of safety of excessive intake and efficacy of long-term intake of beverages containing apple polyphenols. J Oleo Sci. 2010;59(6):321-38. PubMed
  2. Auclair S, Chironi G, Milenkovic D, et al. The regular consumption of a polyphenol-rich apple does not influence endothelial function: a randomised double-blind trial in hypercholesterolemic adults. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010;64(10):1158-65. PubMed
  3. Deley G, Guillemet D, Allaert FA, Babault N. An Acute Dose of Specific Grape and Apple Polyphenols Improves Endurance Performance: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind versus Placebo Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2017;9(8). pii: E917. PubMed
  4. Kamimura A, Takahashi T, Watanabe Y. Investigation of topical application of procyanidin B-2 from apple to identify its potential use as a hair growing agent. Phytomedicine. 2000;7(6):529-36. PubMed
  5. Kishi K, Saito M, Saito T, et al. Clinical efficacy of apple polyphenol for treating cedar pollinosis. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2005;69(4):829-32. PubMed
  6. Nagasako-Akazome Y, Kanda T, Ohtake Y, Shimasaki H, Kobayashi T. Apple polyphenols influence cholesterol metabolism in healthy subjects with relatively high body mass index. J Oleo Sci. 2007;56(8):417-28. PubMed
  7. Takahashi T, Kamimura A, Kagoura M, et al. Investigation of the topical application of procyanidin oligomers from apples to identify their potential use as a hair-growing agent. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2005;4(4):245-9. PubMed
  8. Tenore GC, Caruso D, Buonomo G, et al. A Healthy Balance of Plasma Cholesterol by a Novel Annurca Apple-Based Nutraceutical Formulation: Results of a Randomized Trial. J Med Food. 2017;20(3):288-300. PubMed
  9. Saarenhovi M, Salo P, Scheinin M, et al. The effect of an apple polyphenol extract rich in epicatechin and flavan-3-ol oligomers on brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatory function in volunteers with elevated blood pressure. Nutr. J 2017;16(1):73. PubMed
  10. Prpa EJ, Corpe CP, Atkinson B, et al. Apple polyphenol-rich drinks dose-dependently decrease early-phase postprandial glucose concentrations following a high-carbohydrate meal: a randomized controlled trial in healthy adults and in vitro studies. J Nutr B PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Apple Polyphenols and Interferon Alfa-2b Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Apple Polyphenols with Interferon Alfa-2b?
We do not list a known interaction between Apple Polyphenols and Interferon Alfa-2b. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
How was the Apple Polyphenols and Interferon Alfa-2b combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Interferon Alfa-2b is filed under 2 classifications, and Apple Polyphenols has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Interferon Alfa-2b's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Apple Polyphenols interact with any other medications?
Yes. Apple Polyphenols has 13 documented drug interactions in our database — Interferon Alfa-2b is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Interferon Alfa-2b interact with any supplements?
Yes. Interferon Alfa-2b has documented interactions with 57 supplements in our database — Apple Polyphenols is not one of them. The Interferon Alfa-2b interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Apple Polyphenols monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Interferon Alfa-2b Injection drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Interferon Alfa-2b supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Interferon Alfa-2b, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 10 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.