Safflower Interactions Overview

Check For Interactions With Safflower

Safflower

Also known as
  • Carthamus tinctorius
  • Alazor
  • American Saffron
  • Bastard Saffron
  • Benibana
  • Cártamo
  • Carthame
  • Carthame des Teinturiers
  • Chardon Panaché
  • Dyer's Saffron
  • Fake Saffron
  • False Saffron
  • High Oleic Acid Safflower Oil
Safflower Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is a thistle-like plant cultivated for its oil-rich seeds and vibrant flowers. The plant is known for its historical use as a natural dye and for its oil, which is commonly used in cooking, skincare products, and industrial applications. Safflower oil is valued for its mild flavor, high smoke point, and potential health benefits due to its composition of monounsaturated fats and vitamin E.
There are 204 drugs known to interact with Safflower

Additional Details

Is Safflower Safe? Are There Any Warnings?

Safflower is generally safe when used as part of the diet, both orally and topically. However, when used intravenously or in the form of safflower flowers, caution should be exercised. Safflower flower has abortifacient, menstrual stimulant, and uterine stimulant effects, making it possibly unsafe during pregnancy. There is limited information about the safety of safflower flower during lactation, so it's best to avoid using it in this case.

How Is Safflower Thought To Work? What Is the Mechanism of Action?

Safflower contains active components such as safflower yellow and safflower oil. Safflower yellow has anticoagulant and immunosuppressive activity, while safflower oil is a rich source of essential unsaturated fatty acids. The anticoagulant effects of safflower yellow inhibit the metabolism of warfarin, leading to increased blood concentration. Safflower extracts also have cardiac, vasodilating, hypolipemic, and hypotensive properties. Furthermore, safflower oil can modify immunity, improve cellular response to viral infections, and reduce cholesterol and inflammation.

Pharmacokinetics

There is insufficient reliable information available about the pharmacokinetics of safflower. Further research is needed to understand how the body processes and eliminates safflower compounds.

Interaction Overview (See Bottom of Page For Full List)

Safflower oil, particularly at high doses, may interact with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs like warfarin, potentially increasing the risk of bleeding. It may also interact with certain antidiabetes drugs, affecting their effects on blood glucose levels. Exercise caution and consult a healthcare professional if you are taking these medications along with safflower oil.

Common Side Effects To Watch For

Safflower, when used as directed, is generally well-tolerated and does not cause serious adverse effects. However, rare cases of liver failure have been reported with oral consumption of safflower oil. Dermatologic, hepatic, and immunologic side effects are possible but uncommon.

Are Supplements Standardized?

There is insufficient reliable information available about the standardization of safflower supplements. Quality and standardization may vary among different products. It's recommended to choose reputable brands and consult a healthcare professional for advice.

What Is Safflower Typically Used For?

Safflower is commonly used for various purposes. It has shown effectiveness in reducing hypercholesterolemia by lowering total and LDL cholesterol levels. It has also been studied for its potential benefits in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetic nephropathy, and improving symptoms and outcomes of conditions like cystic fibrosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke. However, more research is needed to establish its effectiveness in these areas. Safflower is also of interest for its possible implications in weight loss and as an adjunct therapy for certain cardiovascular conditions.

Drugs that interact with Safflower

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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.

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