Drug & supplement interaction

Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound + Cyclophosphamide

Cyclophosphamide brand names: Cytoxan, Neosar.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound has a moderate interaction with Cyclophosphamide. Theoretically, rice bran arabinoxylan compound might interfere with immunosuppressants by stimulating the immune system.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound and Cyclophosphamide

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Cyclophosphamide

Cyclophosphamide falls under IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS — the group Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound interacts with.

Theoretically, rice bran arabinoxylan compound might interfere with immunosuppressants by stimulating the immune system. In laboratory and human research, rice bran arabinoxylan compound has been shown to stimulate the activity of immune cells.
Some immunosuppressants include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction 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.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the idea behind this one. Cyclophosphamide works partly by calming or suppressing an overactive immune system, and it's also a powerful chemotherapy drug. Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound (BioBran/MGN-3) is marketed to stimulate the immune system. On paper, those two are pulling in opposite directions, so the worry is that the supplement could blunt how well cyclophosphamide does its job.

I want to be honest about the evidence though: this is theoretical, based on how the supplement behaves in lab and small studies, not on real-world reports of it weakening cyclophosphamide. Still, when you're being treated for cancer or a serious immune condition, this isn't something to guess about. Please don't add this supplement without first running it by your oncologist or pharmacist.

References
  1. Ghoneum M, Namatalia G, Kim C. Effect of MGN-3 on human natural killer cell activity and interferon-y synthesis in vitro. FASEB 1996;10:26-32.
  2. Ghoneum M, Jewett A. Synergistic effect of modified arabinoxylane (MGN-3) and low dose of recombinant IL-2 on human NK cell activity and TNF-a production. American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, Education Conference 1998.
  3. Salama H, Medhat E, Shaheen M, Zekri AN, Darwish T, Ghoneum M. Arabinoxylan rice bran (Biobran) suppresses the viremia level in patients with chronic HCV infection: A randomized trial. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2016;29(4):647-653. PubMed
  4. Ghoneum M, Agrawal S. Mgn-3/biobran enhances generation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells via upregulation of dec-205 expression on dendritic cells. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2014;27(4):523-30. PubMed
  5. Cholujova D, Jakubikova J, Czako B, et al. MGN-3 arabinoxylan rice bran modulates innate immunity in multiple myeloma patients. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2013;62(3):437-45. PubMed
  6. Ghoneum M, Agrawal S. Activation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells in vitro by the biological response modifier arabinoxylan rice bran (MGN-3/Biobran). Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2011;24(4):941-8.
  7. Ghoneum M, Matsuura M. Augmentation of macrophage phagocytosis by modified arabinoxylan rice bran (MGN-3/biobran). Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2004;17(3):283-92. PubMed
  8. Ghoneum M, Jewett A. Production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma from human peripheral blood lymphocytes by MGN-3, a modified arabinoxylan from rice bran, and its synergy with interleukin-2 in vitro. Cancer Detect Prev. 2000;24(4):314-2

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • 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.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound Also Interacts With Other Medications

Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound has 120 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Cyclophosphamide one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Cyclophosphamide

This page covers Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Cyclophosphamide page lists 220 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 6 major · 176 moderate · 38 minor.

Open the Cyclophosphamide interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound and Cyclophosphamide 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 Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound
Steady interest

#1,432 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Cyclophosphamide
Steady interest

#1,726 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.

Supplement

About Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound

What is Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound?

  • Immune support
  • Support during cancer treatment
  • Boosting natural killer (NK) cell activity
  • General wellness in older adults
  • Fatigue and quality of life support

Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound (often sold under brand names like MGN-3 or BioBran) is a processed fiber from rice bran treated with mushroom enzymes, marketed mainly as an immune booster. Early small studies suggest it may affect certain immune cells, but high-quality human evidence is very limited, and it should never replace standard medical care. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially during cancer treatment.

Read the full Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Cyclophosphamide

What Is Cyclophosphamide Used For?

Brand names: Cytoxan, Neosar

Cyclophosphamide is used to treat many types of cancer in adults and children, including malignant lymphomas (such as Hodgkin's disease and Burkitt's lymphoma), multiple myeloma, several forms of leukemia, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, and advanced mycosis fungoides (a type of skin lymphoma). It is often given alongside other chemotherapy drugs rather than on its own.

Oral and injectable powder formulations (but not the Cyclophosphamide Injection solution concentrate) are also approved for minimal change nephrotic syndrome — a kidney condition — in children who have not responded well to, or cannot tolerate, steroid therapy. The injectable solution concentrate is approved for adult patients only due to its alcohol content, and is not approved for use in children.

See full Cyclophosphamide drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound

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

0Major
120Moderate
0Minor
2,709No known interaction
Moderate

120 interactions

Showing 60 of 120 moderate interactions — see all 120 on the Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound page.

No interaction 2,709 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound and Cyclophosphamide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound with Cyclophosphamide?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Rice Bran Arabinoxylan Compound and Cyclophosphamide interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

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

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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.