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Dietary supplement

Boldo and Fringe Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Hawaii Pharm

Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Boldo and Fringe is a dietary supplement by Hawaii Pharm with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for indigestion and bloating, mild constipation, liver and gallbladder support.Based on those ingredients, 482 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Boldo Leaf Extract, Dry. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Boldo and Fringe by Hawaii Pharm

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • “Proprietary Extract Blend” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (983 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

This liquid supplement contains two active ingredients: boldo leaf extract and fringe bark extract. Boldo has a long history of use in herbal practice, though modern research on its actual effects is limited.

The product also contains alcohol, water, and glycerin as inactive ingredients — these are standard carriers and binders in liquid herbal formulas.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

The label doesn't state a purpose we can grade — see each ingredient's own graded uses on its monograph instead.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence behind boldo for any of its traditional uses — benign prostatic hyperplasia, gallbladder disease, kidney stones, and joint pain — is not established in the data we hold. We rate all these uses as having insufficient reliable evidence.

What boldo is commonly used for and whether it actually works are two different things, and the research hasn't caught up yet.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Boldo Fringetree

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Boldo is generally well tolerated in small food amounts, but medicinal doses carry real risks. The most important concern is liver damage — the ascaridole in boldo can harm your liver, and several cases of elevated liver enzymes have been reported.

The most common side effects are abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The safety data on fringe bark are very limited, so use it cautiously and under professional guidance.

Boldo is considered unsafe during pregnancy because it may stimulate the uterus. It should be avoided while breastfeeding due to insufficient safety information.

Fringe bark also lacks reliable pregnancy and breastfeeding safety data, so it should be avoided in both situations as well.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Boldo Fringetree

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Boldo.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; immunosuppressants / transplant drugs; lithium.
  • For scale: 483 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check with your own doctor or pharmacist before taking this product if you take hepatotoxic drugs (medications that can stress the liver), blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs, warfarin, lithium, or tacrolimus. These are Moderate-severity interactions documented in boldo's data.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Boldo and Fringe is not a well-researched product — the evidence for what it actually does is lacking, and boldo carries documented risks, especially to the liver and when combined with certain medications. If you take blood thinners, lithium, tacrolimus, or any drug that affects your liver, this product needs a conversation with your own doctor or pharmacist before you start.

Pregnant or breastfeeding — skip it.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Nov 22, 2023.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Boldo and Fringe, straight from the product label.

Brand Hawaii Pharm
Barcode (UPC) 840253660558
Net contents 4 Fluid Ounce(s); 120 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Nov 22, 2023
DSLD ID 301296
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Boldo and Fringe by Hawaii Pharm, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
0.7 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
840253660558
IngredientAmount% DV
Proprietary Extract Blend983 mg--
Boldo Leaf Extract, Dry0 NP--
Fringe Bark Extract, Dry0 NP--

Other ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Glycerin

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Brand IP Statement(s)

Hawaii Pharm Herbal Extract Highest quality since 2008

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: Shake well before using. For adults add about 20-30 drops (0.7-1 mL, one full squeeze of the dropper bulb) to some juice or water, up to 4 times a day.

Precautions

Warning: We recommend to seek expert medical advice before taking.

Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredients.

Consult your physician before giving to children under 18, during pregnancy, if nursing or taking medications.

Consult your physician before giving to children under 18, during pregnancy, if nursing or taking medications.

May affect the ability to drive and operate machinery. May have contraindications, can cause side effects and adverse reactions. Do not use if seal is broken or missing.

Keep out of the reach of children!

Storage

Store in a cool dry place.

Seals/Symbols

cGMP Made in compliance with cGMP 21 CFR 111 in an FDA registered and inspected facility.

Organic Alcohol Based USA Made in United States of America

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This product has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Formulation

Made in USA, Hawaii

Only natural ingredients Purity is laboratory tested and verified

All the raw materials are gluten-free by their nature No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

Not tested on animals

Organic Alcohol Based

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Formula

Organic Alcohol Based

General Statements

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See for yourself

Boldo and Fringe by Hawaii Pharm label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Boldo and Fringe by Hawaii Pharm

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size0.7 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Proprietary Extract Blend

983 mg per serving

Other (inactive) ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Glycerin. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Boldo and Fringe by Hawaii Pharm Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Boldo and Fringe?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
482Drugs
482 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Boldo and Fringe with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Boldo Leaf Extract, Dry5 drug types · 482 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, taking boldo with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs might increase the risk of bleeding.
Animal and in vitro research shows that boldine, a constituent of boldo, has antiplatelet activity. In one case report, an adult taking a combination of boldo and fenugreek with warfarin experienced an increase in international normalized ratio (INR); however, it is unclear if this effect was due to boldo, fenugreek, the combination, or another factor.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Hepatotoxic Drugs

Theoretically, taking boldo with hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of hepatic injury and disease.
Boldo leaf contains ascaridole, a known liver toxin. Many cases of hepatotoxicity, including elevated liver transaminase levels and jaundice, have been reported in patients taking boldo.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Lithium

Theoretically, taking boldo with lithium might increase the levels and clinical effects of lithium.
Boldo is believed to have diuretic effects. Theoretically, these diuretic effects might reduce the excretion of lithium. The dose of lithium might need to be decreased.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Tacrolimus (Prograf)

Taking boldo with tacrolimus may decrease the levels and clinical effects of tacrolimus, potentially increasing the risk of transplant rejection.
In one case report, a patient with a long-term history of stable tacrolimus levels developed subtherapeutic levels after taking boldo 300 mg twice daily orally for several weeks. Tacrolimus levels returned to normal after discontinuing boldo. However, the mechanism of this interaction is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

A combination of boldo and fenugreek was thought to be associated with an increased international normalized ratio (INR) in a female on warfarin. It is not clear if boldo, fenugreek, or the combination played a role in this interaction. Therefore, boldo may have additive effects with warfarin.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Boldo and Fringe, from the product label.

Hawaii Pharm

See all Hawaii Pharm products
Name
Hawaii Pharm LLC
Street Address
510 Sumner St. Ste. 613
City
Honolulu
State
HI
ZipCode
96817
Phone Number
888-854-2924
Web Address
www.hawaiipharm.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Boldo and Fringe by Hawaii Pharm: Common Questions

Does Boldo and Fringe by Hawaii Pharm interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Boldo and Fringe has a known interaction with 482 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Boldo and Fringe contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What's boldo actually supposed to do?
Boldo is traditionally used for benign prostatic hyperplasia, gallbladder disease, kidney stones, and joint pain. However, the research backing these uses is not established in our data — we rate all of them as insufficient evidence to know whether boldo actually works for these purposes.
Is boldo safe to take regularly?
Short-term use in low doses may be okay, but boldo contains ascaridole, a liver toxin, so it carries a real risk of liver damage with medicinal amounts. Cases of elevated liver enzymes and jaundice have been reported in people taking boldo products. If you're thinking about taking this long-term, talk it over with your own doctor or pharmacist first.
Can I take this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No — boldo is considered unsafe during pregnancy because it may stimulate the uterus, and it should be avoided while breastfeeding due to lack of safety data. Fringe bark also lacks reliable safety information in pregnancy and lactation, so it should be avoided in both as well.
What are the most common side effects?
When used in medicinal doses, boldo can cause abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Severe liver damage is rare but has been documented in case reports. Fringe bark's adverse effects are not well documented.
Can you tell me what fringe bark does?
We have no effectiveness data on file for fringe bark, so we can't tell you what the research shows it does or doesn't do. Its safety profile is also very limited — use it only under professional guidance.

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

Not sure if Boldo and Fringe is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Boldo and Fringe label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Boldo and Fringe's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

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

The 12 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Boldo 10 references
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. Lambert J, Cormier J. Potential interaction between warfarin and boldo-fenugreek. Pharmacotherapy 2001;21:509-12. PubMed
  3. Piscaglia F, Leoni S, Venturi A, et al. Caution in the use of boldo in herbal laxatives: a case of hepatotoxicity. Scand J Gastroenterol 2005;40:236-9. PubMed
  4. Agarwal SC, Crook JR, Pepper CB. Herbal remedies -- how safe are they? A case report of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation induced by herbal medication used for obesity. Int J Cardiol 2006;106:260-1. PubMed
  5. Teng, C. M., Hsueh, C. M., Chang, Y. L., Ko, F. N., Lee, S. S., and Liu, K. C. Antiplatelet effects of some aporphine and phenanthrene alkaloids in rabbits and man. J Pharm Pharmacol 1997;49(7):706-711. PubMed
  6. Carbajal R, Yisfalem A, Pradhan N, et al. Case report: Boldo (Peumus boldus) and tacrolimus interaction in a renal transplant patient. Transplant Proc 2014;46(7):2400-2. PubMed
  7. Almeida ER, Melo AM, Xavier H. Toxicological evaluation of the hydro-alcohol extract of the dry leaves of Peumus boldus and boldine in rats. Phytother Res 2000;14(2):99-102. DOI
  8. Ribeiro RJ, Silvestre C, Duarte C. Hidden risks of alternative medicines: a case of boldo-induced hepatotoxicity. J Diet Suppl 2017;14(2):186-90. PubMed
  9. Oliveira Sá A, Pimentel T, Oliveira N. Boldo-Induced Hepatotoxicity: A Case of Unexplained Jaundice. Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2020;7(12):002116. PubMed
  10. Valdes R, Feuereisen A, Bellinghausen M. Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Boldo. Dermatitis 2021;32(2):e31-e32. PubMed

See these in context on the Boldo monograph →

Fringetree 2 references
  1. Herbs at a Glance — NIH NCCIH Source
  2. Herbs and Supplements — MedlinePlus Source

See these in context on the Fringetree monograph →

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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