Major interaction on record — check this product against your medications before combining. Based on 8 of 12 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

St. John's Seng Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Health Concerns

St. John's Seng label
See full label image
Tablet Or Pill Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Major
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking St. John's Seng against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

St. John's Seng is a dietary supplement by Health Concerns with 12 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for stress and energy support, immune support and colds, blood sugar management.Based on those ingredients, 1,564 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are St. John's Wort, Baked Licorice, White Atractylodes. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

Jump to a section

Check Your Meds Against St. John's Seng by Health Concerns

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with St. John's Seng by Health Concerns — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

Pharmacist-reviewed data Checks every ingredient Answer in seconds
Prefer a human? Send your question to our licensed pharmacists — free, answered by email within 24 hours.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of St. John's Seng by Health Concerns

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

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 11, 2026

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 1 of its 12 active ingredients.
  • “Proprietary Blend (Herb/Botanical)” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (1,500 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

St. John's Seng contains 12 ingredients, including the herb St.

John's Wort and a proprietary blend of traditional botanicals: Ginseng, Astragalus, Tang Kuei (Dong Quai), White Atractylodes, Vladimiria Souliei, Polygala, Albizia, Salvia, Fu Shen sclerotium (Poria Mushroom), Zizyphus, and Baked Licorice. The inactive ingredients are vegetable gum, silicon dioxide, stearic acid, and cellulose.

Does it work?

Strong evidence
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

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded its ingredients' overall clinical evidence instead.

Strong

Strong clinical evidence supports its ingredients for:

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredients' overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Depression — rated "Likely Effective" (St. John's Wort) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) — rated "Possibly Effective" (American Ginseng) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Atopic dermatitis (eczema) — rated "Possibly Effective" (Licorice) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Menopausal symptoms — rated "Possibly Effective" (St. John's Wort) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Canker sores — rated "Possibly Effective" (Licorice) (Natural Medicines).

The evidence for most ingredients in this product is not established in our data. St.

John's Wort is rated Likely Effective for depression and Possibly Effective for somatic symptom disorder and menopausal symptoms, though it shows Possibly Ineffective results for HIV/AIDS and irritable bowel syndrome. For the other active ingredients—Astragalus, Tang Kuei, White Atractylodes, Poria Mushroom, Zizyphus, and Baked Licorice—the effectiveness ratings we hold show insufficient reliable evidence for most of their traditional uses.

Baked Licorice alone carries a Possibly Effective rating for atopic dermatitis (eczema) and canker sores.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient American Ginseng Astragalus Dong Quai Atractylodes Poria Mushroom Zizyphus Licorice St. John's Wort

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 8 of the 8 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 8 of 8.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 8 of 8.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

St. John's Wort is generally well tolerated short-term but causes photosensitivity (sun sensitivity) with chronic use; common side effects include diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, headache, insomnia, and restlessness.

Rare cases of suicidal thoughts and psychosis have been reported. Astragalus, White Atractylodes, and Poria Mushroom are generally well tolerated short-term in healthy adults, though human safety data are limited; allergic reactions and nausea are possible.

Tang Kuei (Dong Quai) is generally well tolerated orally but may increase bleeding and cause skin sensitivity to sunlight; occupational exposure has caused allergic asthma and rhinitis in one pharmacist. Baked Licorice is generally fine in small food amounts but glycyrrhizin (its active compound) can cause serious problems with high or long-term doses, including headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Zizyphus fruit is widely eaten as food, but medicinal supplements are not well studied. For pregnancy: Astragalus, Tang Kuei, White Atractylodes, Poria Mushroom, and St.

John's Wort should all be avoided—the safety data advises against them. Zizyphus fruit is rated Likely Safe in pregnancy, but medicinal amounts are not well studied.

Baked Licorice should be avoided because glycyrrhizin has been linked to harmful effects. For breastfeeding: Astragalus, Tang Kuei, White Atractylodes, Poria Mushroom, and St.

John's Wort should all be avoided—there is not enough reliable safety information. Zizyphus medicinal doses are not well studied while breastfeeding.

Data on Baked Licorice, Ginseng, Vladimiria Souliei, Polygala, Albizia, and Salvia during pregnancy or breastfeeding is not on file.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient American Ginseng Astragalus Dong Quai Atractylodes Poria Mushroom Zizyphus Licorice St. John's Wort

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 8 of the 8 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Zizyphus, Poria Mushroom, St. John's Wort, Licorice, Dong Quai, among others.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; immunosuppressants / transplant drugs; diabetes medications; heart-rhythm medications; lithium.
  • For scale: 1,565 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.

Before taking St. John's Seng, check with your pharmacist if you take any of these: digoxin or other heart medications, phenytoin, phenobarbital, mephenytoin or other seizure drugs, irinotecan, docetaxel or other cancer chemotherapy, protease inhibitors or other HIV medications, tacrolimus or other immunosuppressants, warfarin or other blood thinners, antiplatelet drugs, estrogen or hormone therapy, antidiabetes medications, lithium, cyclophosphamide, digoxin, loop diuretics (water pills), midazolam or other sedatives, anticholinergic or cholinergic drugs, or medications metabolized by liver enzymes CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C19, or CYP3A4.

The highest-severity risks are with heart and seizure medications, cancer drugs, HIV treatments, and blood thinners.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with strong clinical evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

St. John's Seng is a traditional herbal blend with St.

John's Wort as a key ingredient, suitable mainly for people exploring options for mild to moderate depression without prescription medications. If you take any heart, seizure, cancer, HIV, immunosuppressant, diabetes, or blood-thinning medications, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting this product—the interaction risks are significant.

Even if you're healthy, check your exact medications against the tool on this page.

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

Assessment coverage: 8 of 12 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 25, 2013.

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 St. John's Seng, straight from the product label.

Brand Health Concerns
Net contents 90 Tablet(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2013
DSLD ID 25785
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Tablet Or Pill
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
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 St. John's Seng by Health Concerns, 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:
2 Tablet(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
3 Tablet(s)
Servings per container
45
IngredientAmount% DV
Ginseng0 Not Present--
Astragalus0 Not Present--
Vladimiria Souliei0 Not Present--
Tang Kuei0 Not Present--
White Atractylodes0 Not Present--
Proprietary Blend (Herb/Botanical)1500 mg--
Polygala0 Not Present--
Albizia0 Not Present--
Salvia0 Not Present--
Fu Shen sclerotium0 Not Present--
Zizyphus0 Not Present--
Baked Licorice0 Not Present--
St. John's Wort100 mg--

Other ingredients: Vegetable Gum, Silicon Dioxide, Stearic Acid, Cellulose

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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: Two to three tablets 3 times per day between meals.

Precautions

Notice: This product is not intended for use by pregnant women.

Brand IP Statement(s)

CHINESE TRADITIONAL FORMULAS(TM)

COMBINING MODERN RESEARCH AND ANCIENT WISDOM(R)

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

General Statements

Pin Yin: Ren Shen, Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, Fu Shen, Suan Zao Ren, He Huan Pi, Dan Shen, Dang Gui, Yuan Shi, Mu Xiang, Zhi Gan Cao.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

St. John's Seng by Health Concerns label

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

St. John's Seng label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in St. John's Seng by Health Concerns

These are the 12 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Tablet(s) Dosage formTablet Or Pill Servings per container45 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 Blend (Herb/Botanical)

1500 mg per serving

Other (inactive) ingredients: Vegetable Gum, Silicon Dioxide, Stearic Acid, Cellulose. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

St. John's Seng by Health Concerns Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against St. John's Seng?

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
1,564Drugs
755 Major 807 Moderate 2 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

St. John's Wort 1,143
Baked Licorice 1,040
White Atractylodes 801
Zizyphus 469
Fu Shen sclerotium 417

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in St. John's Seng interact with 1,564 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

8 of the 12 ingredients in St. John's Seng interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. St. John's Wort Baked Licorice White Atractylodes Zizyphus Fu Shen sclerotium Ginseng Astragalus Tang Kuei

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in St. John's Seng with known interactions, here are the types of medications they can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

St. John's Wort47 drug types · 1,143 drugs

Alprazolam (Xanax)

St. John's wort increases the clearance of alprazolam and decreases its effects.
Alprazolam, which is used as a probe for cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) activity, has a two-fold increase in clearance when given with St. John's wort. St. John's wort reduces the half-life of alprazolam from 12.4 hours to 6 hours.

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Contraceptive Drugs

St. John's wort increases the clearance of contraceptive drugs and reduces their clinical effects.
Females taking St. John's wort and oral contraceptives concurrently should use an additional or alternative form of birth control. St. John's wort can decrease norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol levels by 13% to 15%, resulting in breakthrough bleeding, irregular menstrual bleeding, or unplanned pregnancy. Bleeding irregularities usually occur within a week of starting St. John's wort and regular cycles usually return when St. John's wort is discontinued. Unplanned pregnancy has occurred with concurrent use of oral contraceptives and St. John's wort extract. St. John's wort is thought to induce the cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2), 2C9 (CYP2C9), and 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzymes, which are responsible for metabolism of progestins and estrogens in contraceptives.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)

St. John's wort reduces the levels and clinical effects of cyclosporine.
Concomitant use can decrease plasma cyclosporine levels by 30% to 70%. Using St. John's wort with cyclosporine in patients with heart, kidney, or liver transplants can cause subtherapeutic cyclosporine levels and acute transplant rejection. This interaction has occurred with a St. John's wort extract standardized to 0.3% hypericin and dosed at 300-600 mg per day. Withdrawal of St. John's wort can result in a 64% increase in cyclosporine levels. St. John's wort induces cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and the multi-drug transporter, P-glycoprotein/MDR-1, which increases cyclosporine clearance.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

St. John's wort increases the metabolism and reduces the levels of CYP3A4 substrates.
St. John's wort induces CYP3A4 enzymes and increases metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates. Clinically significant interactions have been reported with St. John's wort products containing hyperforin 1 mg or more.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Digoxin (Lanoxin)

St. John's wort reduces the levels and clinical effects of digoxin.
St. John's wort can reduce the bioavailability, serum levels, and therapeutic effects of digoxin. Taking an extract of St. John's wort 900 mg, containing hyperforin 7.5 mg or more, daily for 10-14 days, can reduce serum digoxin levels by 25% in healthy people. St. John's wort is thought to affect the multidrug transporter, P-glycoprotein, which mediates the absorption and elimination of digoxin and other drugs. St. John's wort products providing less than 7.5 mg of hyperforin daily do not appear to affect digoxin levels.

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Docetaxel (Taxotere)

St. John's wort reduces the levels and clinical effects of docetaxel.
Clinical research shows that taking a specific St. John's wort product (Hyperiplant, VSM) 300 mg three times daily for 14 days increases docetaxel clearance by about 14%, resulting in decreased plasma concentrations of docetaxel in cancer patients. This is most likely due to induction of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) by St. John's wort.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Imatinib (Gleevec)

St. John's wort reduces the levels and clinical effects of imatinib.
Taking St. John's wort 900 mg daily for 2 weeks reduces the bioavailability and half-life of a single dose of imatinib and decreases its serum levels by 30% in healthy volunteers. This is most likely due to induction of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) by St. John's wort, which increases clearance of imatinib.

Likelihood Likely Evidence A
Irinotecan (Camptosar)

St. John's wort reduces the levels and clinical effects of irinotecan.
St. John's wort 900 mg daily for 18 days decreases serum levels of irinotecan by at least 50%. Clearance of the active metabolite of irinotecan, SN-38, is also increased, resulting in a 42% decrease in the area under the concentration-time curve. This is thought to be due to induction of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) by St. John's wort.

Likelihood Likely Evidence A
Mephenytoin (Mesantoin)

St. John's wort reduces the levels and clinical effects of mephenytoin.
Preliminary clinical research in healthy males shows that taking St. John's wort for 14 days induces cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) and significantly increases metabolism of mephenytoin (Mesantoin). In people with wild-type 2C19, metabolism was almost 4-fold greater in subjects who received St. John's wort compared to placebo. In contrast, patients with 2C19*2/*2 and *2/*3 genotypes did not demonstrate a similar increase in metabolism.

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Nnrtis)

St. John's wort decreases the levels and clinical effects of NNRTIs.
St. John's wort increases the oral clearance of nevirapine (Viramune) by 35%. Subtherapeutic concentrations are associated with therapeutic failure, development of viral resistance, and development of drug class resistance. St. John's wort induces intestinal and hepatic cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and intestinal P-glycoprotein/MDR-1, a drug transporter.

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Omeprazole (Prilosec)

St. John's wort decreases the levels and clinical effects of omeprazole.
Taking St. John's wort, 300 mg orally three times daily for 14 days, reduces serum concentrations of omeprazole by inducing its metabolism via cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 and 3A4. The reduction of omeprazole serum levels is dependent on CYP2C19 genotype, with reductions up to 50% in extensive metabolizers and 38% in poor metabolizers.

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Oxycodone (Oxycontin)

St. John's wort decreases the levels and clinical effects of oxycodone.
St. John's wort can increase oxycodone metabolism by inducing cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), reducing plasma levels and analgesic activity.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
P-Glycoprotein Substrates

St. John's wort decreases the levels and clinical effects of P-glycoprotein substrates.
St. John's wort induces P-glycoprotein. P-glycoprotein is a carrier mechanism responsible for transporting drugs and other substances across cell membranes. When P-glycoprotein is induced in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, it can prevent the absorption of some medications. In addition, induction of p-glycoprotein can decrease entry of drugs into the central nervous system (CNS) and decrease access to other sites of action.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Phenobarbital (Luminal)

St. John's wort decreases the levels and clinical effects of phenobarbital.
St. John's wort may increase the metabolism of phenobarbital. Plasma concentrations of phenobarbital should be monitored carefully. The dose of phenobarbital may need to be increased when St. John's wort is started and decreased when it is stopped.

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Phenprocoumon (Marcoumar, Others)

St. John's wort decreases the levels and clinical effects of phenprocoumon.
St. John's wort appears to increase the metabolism of phenprocoumon (an anticoagulant that is not available in the US) by increasing the activity of the cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) enzyme. This may result in decreases in the anticoagulant effect and international normalized ratio (INR).

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Phenytoin (Dilantin)

St. John's wort decreases the levels and clinical effects of phenytoin.
St. John's wort may increase the metabolism of phenytoin. Plasma concentrations of phenytoin should be monitored closely. The dose of phenytoin may need to be increased when St. John's wort is started and decreased when it is stopped.

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Protease Inhibitors (Pis)

St. John's wort reduces the levels and clinical effects of PIs.
In healthy volunteers, St. John's wort can reduce the plasma concentrations of indinavir (Crixivan) by inducing cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). This might result in treatment failure and viral resistance. St. John's wort also induces P-glycoprotein, which can result in decreased intracellular protease inhibitor concentrations and increased elimination.

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)

St. John's wort decreases the levels and clinical effects of rivaroxaban.
A small pharmacokinetic study in healthy volunteers shows that taking a single dose of rivaroxaban 20 mg after using a specific St. John's wort extract (Jarsin, Vifor SA) 450 mg orally twice daily for 14 days reduces the bioavailability of rivaroxaban by 24% and reduces rivaroxaban's therapeutic inhibition of factor Xa by 20%.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Tacrolimus (Prograf)

St. John's wort decreases the levels and clinical effects of tacrolimus.
Taking a St. John's wort extract (Jarsin) 600 mg daily significantly decreases tacrolimus serum levels. Dose increases of 60% may be required to maintain therapeutic tacrolimus levels in patients taking St. John's wort. St. John's wort is thought to lower tacrolimus levels by inducing cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzymes. A small clinical study in healthy adults also shows that taking St. John's wort 300 mg three times daily for 10 days decreases the total systemic exposure to tacrolimus by 27% and 33% after taking a single 5 mg dose of immediate-release or prolonged-release tacrolimus, respectively.

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Warfarin (Coumadin)

St. John's wort decreases the levels and clinical effects of warfarin.
Taking St. John's wort significantly increases clearance of warfarin, including both its R- and S-isomers. This is likely due to induction of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2 and CYP3A4. St. John's wort can also significantly decrease International Normalized Ratio (INR) in people taking warfarin. In addition, taking warfarin at the same time as St. John's wort might reduce warfarin bioavailability. When a dried extract is mixed with warfarin in an aqueous medium, up to 30% of warfarin is bound to particles, reducing its absorption.

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Aminolevulinic Acid

St. John's wort might have additive phototoxic effects with aminolevulinic acid.
Concomitant use with St. John's wort extract may cause synergistic phototoxicity. Delta-aminolevulinic acid can cause a burning erythematous rash and severe swelling of the face, neck, and hands when taken with St. John's wort.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Bupropion (Wellbutrin)

St. John's wort might reduce the levels and effects of bupropion.
Clinical research shows that taking St. John's wort 325 mg three times daily for 14 days along with bupropion reduces the area under the concentration-time curve by approximately 14% and increases the clearance of bupropion by approximately 20%. This effect is attributed to the induction of cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) by St. John's wort.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Clopidogrel (Plavix)

St. John's wort might increase the levels and effects of clopidogrel.
Taking St. John's wort with clopidogrel seems to increase the activity of clopidogrel. In clopidogrel non-responders, taking St. John's wort seems to induce metabolism of clopidogrel to its active metabolite by cytochrome P450 enzymes 3A4 and 2C19. This leads to increased antiplatelet activity. Theoretically, this might lead to an increased risk of bleeding in clopidogrel responders.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Clozapine (Clozaril)

St. John's wort might decrease the levels and clinical effects of clozapine.
A case report describes a female with schizophrenia controlled on clozapine who had a return of symptoms when she started taking St. John's wort. The plasma concentration of clozapine was reduced, likely because its clearance was increased due to induction of the cytochrome P450 enzymes 3A4, 1A2, 2C9, and 2C19 by St. John's wort.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

St. John's wort may increase the metabolism and reduce the levels of CYP1A2 substrates.
Clinical and in vitro research shows that St. John's wort induces CYP1A2, but to a lesser extent than CYP3A4.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
St. John's Wort full monograph & all 47 interactions

Baked Licorice18 drug types · 1,040 drugs

Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, licorice might reduce the effects of antihypertensive drugs.
In human research, licorice increases blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Cisplatin (Platinol-Aq)

Theoretically, licorice might reduce the effects of cisplatin.
In animal research, licorice diminished the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Corticosteroids

Theoretically, concomitant use of licorice and corticosteroids might increase the side effects of corticosteroids.
Case reports suggest that concomitant use of licorice and oral corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone, can potentiate the duration of activity and increase blood levels of corticosteroids. Additionally, in one case report, a patient with neurogenic orthostatic hypertension stabilized on fludrocortisone 0.1 mg twice daily developed pseudohyperaldosteronism after recent consumption of large amounts of black licorice.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2B6 (Cyp2B6) Substrates

Theoretically, licorice might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2B6.
In vitro research shows that licorice extract and glabridin, a licorice constituent, inhibit CYP2B6 isoenzymes. Licorice extract from the species G. uralensis seems to inhibit CYP2B6 isoenzymes to a greater degree than G. glabra extract in vitro. Theoretically, these species of licorice might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2B6; however, these interactions have not yet been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2C19 (Cyp2C19) Substrates

Theoretically, licorice might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19.
In vitro, licorice extracts from the species G. glabra and G. uralensis inhibit CYP2C19 isoenzymes in vitro. Theoretically, these species of licorice might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19; however, this interaction has not yet been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2C8 (Cyp2C8) Substrates

Theoretically, licorice might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C8.
In vitro, licorice extract from the species G. glabra and G. uralensis inhibits CYP2C8 isoenzymes. Theoretically, these species of licorice might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C8; however, this interaction has not yet been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2C9 (Cyp2C9) Substrates

Theoretically, licorice might increase or decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.
There is conflicting evidence about the effect of licorice on CYP2C9 enzyme activity. In vitro research shows that extracts from the licorice species G. glabra and G. uralensis moderately inhibit CYP2C9 isoenzymes. However, evidence from an animal model shows that licorice extract from the species G. uralensis can induce hepatic CYP2C9 activity. Until more is known, licorice should be used cautiously in people taking CYP2C9 substrates.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, licorice might increase or decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
Pharmacokinetic research shows that the licorice constituent glycyrrhizin, taken in a dosage of 150 mg orally twice daily for 14 days, modestly decreases the area under the concentration-time curve of midazolam by about 20%. Midazolam is a substrate of CYP3A4, suggesting that glycyrrhizin modestly induces CYP3A4 activity. Animal research also shows that licorice extract from the species G. uralensis induces CYP3A4 activity. However, licorice extract from G. glabra species appear to inhibit CYP3A4-induced metabolism of testosterone in vitro. It is thought that the G. glabra inhibits CYP3A4 due to its constituent glabridin, which is a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor in vitro and not present in other licorice species. Until more is known, licorice should be used cautiously in people taking CYP3A4 substrates.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Theoretically, concomitant use of licorice with digoxin might increase the risk of cardiac toxicity.
Overuse or misuse of licorice with cardiac glycoside therapy might increase the risk of cardiac toxicity due to potassium loss.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Diuretic Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of licorice with diuretic drugs might increase the risk of hypokalemia.
Overuse of licorice might compound diuretic-induced potassium loss. In one case report, a 72-year-old male with a past medical history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, arrhythmia, stroke, and hepatic dysfunction was hospitalized with severe hypokalemia and uncontrolled hypertension due to pseudohyperaldosteronism. This was thought to be provoked by concomitant daily consumption of a product containing 225 mg of glycyrrhizin, a constituent of licorice, and hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg for 1 month.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Estrogens

Theoretically, licorice might increase or decrease the effects of estrogen therapy.
Theoretically, licorice might interfere with estrogen therapy due to estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Loop Diuretics

Theoretically, loop diuretics might increase the mineralocorticoid effects of licorice.
Theoretically, loop diuretics might enhance the mineralocorticoid effects of licorice by inhibiting the enzyme that converts cortisol to cortisone; however, bumetanide (Bumex) does not appear to have this effect.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Midazolam (Versed)

Theoretically, licorice might decrease levels of midazolam.
In humans, the licorice constituent glycyrrhizin appears to moderately induce the metabolism of midazolam. This is likely due to induction of cytochrome P450 3A4 by licorice. Until more is known, licorice should be used cautiously in people taking midazolam.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
P-Glycoprotein Substrates

Theoretically, licorice might decrease the absorption of P-glycoprotein substrates.
In vitro research shows that licorice can increase P-glycoprotein activity.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Paclitaxel (Abraxane, Onxol)

Theoretically, licorice might decrease plasma levels and clinical effects of paclitaxel.
Multiple doses of licorice taken concomitantly with paclitaxel might reduce the effectiveness of paclitaxel. Animal research shows that licorice 3 grams/kg given orally for 14 days before intravenous administration of paclitaxel decreases the exposure to paclitaxel and increases its clearance. Theoretically, this occurs because licorice induces cytochrome P450 3A4 enzymes, which metabolize paclitaxel. Notably, a single dose of licorice did not affect exposure or clearance of paclitaxel.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

Theoretically, licorice might decrease plasma levels and clinical effects of warfarin.
Licorice seems to increase metabolism and decrease levels of warfarin in animal models. This is likely due to induction of cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) metabolism by licorice. Advise patients taking warfarin to avoid taking licorice.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

Theoretically, licorice might decrease the levels and clinical effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
In vitro research shows that licorice induces CYP1A2 enzymes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Methotrexate (Trexall, Others)

Theoretically, licorice might increase levels of methotrexate.
Animal research suggests that intravenous administration of glycyrrhizin, a licorice constituent, and high-dose methotrexate may delay methotrexate excretion and increase systemic exposure, leading to transient elevations in liver enzymes and total bilirubin. This interaction has not yet been reported in humans.

Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D
Baked Licorice full monograph & interactions

White Atractylodes5 drug types · 801 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, atractylodes might increase the risk of bleeding when used concomitantly with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs.
Laboratory research suggests that atractylenolides II and III, constituents of atractylodes, reduce platelet activation. So far, this has not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Aromatase Inhibitors

Theoretically, atractylodes may have an additive effect when used with other aromatase inhibitors.
Laboratory research suggests that atractylodes and its constituents exhibit aromatase inhibitor effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Hexobarbital

Theoretically, taking atractylodes may prolong the therapeutic and adverse effects of hexobarbital.
In animals, atractylodes has been shown to prolong the effects of hexobarbital. These effects have not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

Theoretically, atractylodes might decrease the levels of CYP1A2 substrates.
In animals, atractylodes administered at high doses has been shown to induce CYP1A2 activity. This effect has not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, atractylodes might increase the levels of CYP3A4 substrates.
In animals, atractylodes administered at high doses has been shown to inhibit CYP3A1 activity, which is a homolog to the human CYP3A4 enzyme. This effect has not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
White Atractylodes full monograph & interactions

Zizyphus3 drug types · 469 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, zizyphus might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Animal research shows that zizyphus has hypoglycemic activity. However, a small clinical study shows that zizyphus fruit powder does not reduce fasting blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cns Depressants

Theoretically, zizyphus might cause additive sedative effects when taken with CNS depressants.
Some animal research has found that various parts of zizyphus have sedative effects. However, other animal research shows that zizyphus plant extract does not alter sleep parameters when used in combination with pentobarbital.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

Theoretically, zizyphus might decrease the levels and clinical effects of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2.
Animal research shows that zizyphus induces CYP1A2 enzymes. However, this effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Zizyphus full monograph & interactions

Fu Shen sclerotium3 drug types · 417 drugs

Anticholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, poria mushroom might decrease the clinical effects of anticholinergic drugs.
In animal research, poria mushroom essential oil reduces acetylcholinesterase activity. This interaction has not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, poria mushroom might have additive effects when used with cholinergic drugs.
In animal research, poria mushroom essential oil reduces acetylcholinesterase activity. This interaction has not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cns Depressants

Theoretically, taking poria mushroom extract may enhance the therapeutic and adverse effects of sedatives.
Animal research shows that poria mushroom extract has sedative properties. This interaction has not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Fu Shen sclerotium full monograph & interactions

Ginseng4 drug types · 217 drugs

Warfarin (Coumadin)

American ginseng seems to decrease the effectiveness of warfarin therapy.
Healthy patients receiving warfarin 5 mg daily, who also take American ginseng 1 gram twice daily, seem to have a significantly reduced international normalized ratio (INR).

Likelihood Likely Evidence B
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking American ginseng with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
American ginseng seems to lower postprandial blood glucose. Theoretically, concomitant use with antidiabetes drugs might enhance blood glucose lowering effects and possibly cause hypoglycemia.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Immunosuppressants

Theoretically, American ginseng use might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.
American ginseng seems to stimulate immune function. Theoretically, American ginseng might decrease the effectiveness of immunosuppressant drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (Maois)

Theoretically, American ginseng can interfere with MAOI therapy.
There is one case report of insomnia, headache, and tremors when an unspecified ginseng product was used with phenelzine (Nardil), an MAOI. There is also one case report of hypomania when an unspecified ginseng product was used with phenelzine. Theoretically, American ginseng may interfere with MAOI therapy.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Ginseng full monograph & interactions

Astragalus4 drug types · 208 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking astragalus with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Clinical research in humans shows that astragalus might have hypoglycemic effects. Theoretically, taking astragalus, especially in combination with other hypoglycemic agents, might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.

Likelihood Probable Evidence A
Cyclophosphamide

Theoretically, astragalus might interfere with cyclophosphamide therapy.
Evidence regarding the effect of astragalus on immunosuppression caused by cyclophosphamide is conflicting. Some animal research suggests that astragalus reverses cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression. However, other animal research shows no effect.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Immunosuppressants

Theoretically, astragalus might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.
Astragalus seems to stimulate immune function. Theoretically, taking astragalus might decrease the effects of immunosuppressive therapy.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Lithium

Theoretically, astragalus might increase levels and adverse effects of lithium.
Animal research suggests that astragalus has diuretic properties. Theoretically, due to this diuretic effect, astragalus might reduce excretion and increase levels of lithium.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Astragalus full monograph & interactions

Tang Kuei3 drug types · 163 drugs

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Dong quai may increase the risk of bleeding when used with warfarin.
Case reports suggest that concomitant use of dong quai with warfarin can increase the anticoagulant effects of warfarin and increase the risk of bleeding. In one case, after 4 weeks of taking dong quai 565 mg once or twice daily, the international normalized ratio (INR) increased to 4.9. The INR normalized 4 weeks after discontinuation of dong quai.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, dong quai may increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs; however, research is conflicting.
Animal studies suggest that dong quai has antithrombin activity and inhibits platelet aggregation due to its coumarin components. Additionally, some case reports in humans suggest that dong quai can increase the anticoagulant effects of warfarin. However, clinical research in healthy adults shows that taking 1 gram of dong quai root daily for 3 weeks does not significantly inhibit platelet aggregation or cause bleeding. Until more is known, use dong quai with caution in patients taking antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Estrogens

Theoretically, dong quai may reduce the effects of estrogens.
Dong quai has estrogenic effects. Theoretically, concomitant use of large amounts of dong quai might interfere with hormone replacement therapy due to competition for estrogen receptors.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Tang Kuei full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for St. John's Seng, from the product label.

Health Concerns

See all Health Concerns products
Name
Health Concerns
Street Address
8001 Capwell Drive
City
Oakland
State
CA
ZipCode
94621
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

St. John's Seng by Health Concerns: Common Questions

Does St. John's Seng by Health Concerns interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, St. John's Seng has a known interaction with 1,564 medications, including 755 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
St. John's Seng contains 12 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.
Is this safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
Most of the active ingredients in this product—including St. John's Wort, Astragalus, Tang Kuei, White Atractylodes, Poria Mushroom, and Baked Licorice—should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. There isn't enough safety information to know either way for Ginseng, Vladimiria Souliei, Polygala, Albizia, and Salvia. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice before taking this product.
What is St. John's Wort used for?
St. John's Wort is rated Likely Effective for depression and Possibly Effective for somatic symptom disorder and menopausal symptoms. It does not appear to be effective for HIV/AIDS or irritable bowel syndrome.
Can this product cause sun sensitivity?
Yes. St. John's Wort can cause photodermatitis (sun sensitivity) with chronic use, and Tang Kuei (Dong Quai) may cause skin sensitivity to sunlight. If you take this product, limit sun exposure and use sunscreen.
What are the most common side effects?
St. John's Wort commonly causes diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, headache, insomnia, and restlessness. Baked Licorice may cause headache, nausea, and vomiting. White Atractylodes may cause allergic reaction, dry mouth, and nausea. Most other ingredients are generally well tolerated, though full safety data are limited.
Can I take this with my blood thinner?
No, not without checking with your pharmacist first. Tang Kuei (Dong Quai) can increase bleeding risk with blood thinners like warfarin, and White Atractylodes may also raise that risk. Baked Licorice can decrease warfarin's effectiveness. Use the medication checker on this page with your exact medication.
Does this product contain fillers?
Yes. In addition to the active ingredients, this product contains vegetable gum, silicon dioxide, stearic acid, and cellulose as inactive ingredients.

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

Not sure if St. John's Seng 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.

St. John's Seng label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind St. John's Seng’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

American Ginseng

Interacts with 217 drugs

American ginseng is an herbal root used as an 'adaptogen' to support energy, stress, immune function, and blood sugar. Some uses—such as reducing the chance or length of colds and modestly l...

Read the full American Ginseng monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Astragalus

Interacts with 208 drugs

Astragalus is a root used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, mainly to support the immune system and help the body cope with stress. While early studies are interesting, strong h...

Read the full Astragalus monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Dong Quai

Interacts with 163 drugs

Dong Quai is a traditional Chinese herb often called "female ginseng" and is mostly used for menstrual and menopausal complaints. High-quality scientific evidence that it works for these use...

Read the full Dong Quai monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Atractylodes

Interacts with 801 drugs

Atractylodes is a root used for centuries in traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Thai medicine, mostly for digestive complaints and fatigue, often as part of multi-herb formulas. Modern resea...

Read the full Atractylodes monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Poria Mushroom

Interacts with 417 drugs

Poria mushroom (Fu Ling) is a fungus long used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, mainly as a mild diuretic and digestive and calming aid. Modern scientific evidence in humans is very limited,...

Read the full Poria Mushroom monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Zizyphus

Interacts with 469 drugs

Zizyphus (jujube) is an edible fruit and traditional remedy used mainly for sleep, anxiety, and digestion. The fruit is a nutritious food, but human evidence for its medicinal benefits is li...

Read the full Zizyphus monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Licorice

Interacts with 1,040 drugs

Licorice root is a traditional remedy used for sore throats, coughs, and digestive complaints, but solid human evidence is limited for most uses. Regular licorice contains glycyrrhizin, whic...

Read the full Licorice monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

St. John's Wort

Interacts with 1,143 drugs

St. John's wort is a well-studied herb most often used for mild to moderate depression, and some research suggests it may help with this. However, it has many serious interactions with presc...

Read the full St. John's Wort monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

St. John's Seng'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 312 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.

American Ginseng 12 references
  1. Shader RI, Greenblatt DJ. Phenelzine and the dream machine-ramblings and reflections. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1985;5:65. PubMed
  2. Jones BD, Runikis AM. Interaction of ginseng with phenelzine. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1987;7:201-2. PubMed
  3. Janetzky K, Morreale AP. Probable interaction between warfarin and ginseng. Am J Health Syst Pharm 1997;54:692-3. PubMed
  4. Vuksan V, Sievenpiper JL, Koo VY, et al. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) reduces postprandial glycemia in nondiabetic subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:1009-13. PubMed
  5. Vuksan V, Stavro MP, Sievenpiper JL, et al. Similar postprandial glycemic reductions with escalation of dose and administration time of American ginseng in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2000;23:1221-6. PubMed
  6. Chan LY, Chiu PY, Lau TK. An in-vitro study of ginsenoside Rb(1)-induced teratogenicity using a whole rat embryo culture model. Hum Reprod 2003;18:2166-8..
  7. McElhaney JE, Gravenstein S, Cole SK, et al. A Placebo-Controlled Trial of a Proprietary Extract of North American Ginseng (CVT-E002) to Prevent Acute Respiratory Illness in Institutionalized Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004;52:13-9. PubMed
  8. Yuan CS, Wei G, Dey L, et al. American ginseng reduces warfarin's effect in healthy patients: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 2004;141:23-7.
  9. Predy GN, Goel V, Lovlin R, et al. Efficacy of an extract of North American ginseng containing poly-furanosyl-pyranosyl-saccharides for preventing upper respiratory tract infections: a randomized controlled trial. CMAJ 2005;173:1043-8.. PubMed
  10. McElhaney JE, Goel V, Toane B, et al. Efficacy of COLD-fX in the prevention of respiratory symptoms in community-dwelling adults: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med 2006;12:153-7. PubMed
  11. Predy GN, Goel V, Lovlin RE, et al. Immune modulating effects of daily supplementation of COLD-fX (a proprietary extract of North American ginseng) in healthy adults. J Clin Biochem Nutr 2006;39:162-167. DOI
  12. Stavro PM, Woo M, Leiter LA, et al. Long-term intake of North American ginseng has no effect on 24-hour blood pressure and renal function. Hypertension 2006;47(4):791-6. PubMed

See these in context on the American Ginseng monograph →

Astragalus 13 references
  1. Upton R, ed. Astragalus Root: Analytical, quality control, and therapeutic monograph. Santa Cruz, CA: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. 1999:1-25.
  2. Khoo KS, Ang PT. Extract of astragalus membranaceus and ligustrum lucidum does not prevent cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression. Singapore Med J 1995;36:387-90.
  3. Chu DT, Wong WL, Mavligit GM. Immunotherapy with Chinese medicinal herbs. II. Reversal of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression by administration of fractionated Astragalus membranaceus in vivo. J Clin Lab Immunol 1988;25:125-9.
  4. Sun Y, Hersh EM, Lee SL, et al. Preliminary observations on the effects of the Chinese medicinal herbs Astragalus membranaceus and Ligustrum lucidum on lymphocyte blastogenic responses. J Biol Response Mod 1983;2:227-37..
  5. Ma J, Peng A, Lin S. Mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of astragalus membranaceus on sodium and water retention in experimental heart failure. Chin Med J (Engl) 1998;111:17-23.
  6. Matkovic Z, Zivkovic V, Korica M, et al. Efficacy and safety of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Phytother Res 2010;24:175-81.
  7. Zhang, J. G., Yang, N., He, H., Wei, G. H., Gao, D. S., Wang, X. L., Wang, X. Z., and Song, G. Y. [Effect of Astragalus injection on plasma levels of apoptosis-related factors in aged patients with chronic heart failure.]. Chin J Integr.Med 2005;11(3):18 PubMed
  8. Chen, H. W., Lin, I. H., Chen, Y. J., Chang, K. H., Wu, M. H., Su, W. H., Huang, G. C., and Lai, Y. L. A novel infusible botanically-derived drug, PG2, for cancer-related fatigue: a phase II double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study. Clin Invest PubMed
  9. Tian H, Lu J, He H, et al.The effect of Astragalus as an adjuvant treatment in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A (preliminary) meta-analysis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016;191:206-215. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.05.062. PubMed
  10. Hong KF, Liu PY, Zhang W, Gui DK, Xu YH. The Efficacy and Safety of Astragalus as an Adjuvant Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Integr Complement Med 2023. PubMed
  11. Chan KW, Kwong ASK, Tsui PN, et al. Add-on astragalus in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease: A multi-center, assessor-blind, randomized controlled trial. Phytomedicine 2024;130:155457. PubMed
  12. Han X, Yu T, Chen X, Du Z, Yu M, Xiong J. Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on left ventricular remodeling in HFrEF: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol 2024;15:1345797. PubMed
  13. Jing P, Hongzheng H, Zhenqi WU, Meijuan Z, Zuojing LI, Gang C. Long-term efficacy and safety of Huangqi ()-based Traditional Chinese Medicine in diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Tradit Chin Med 2024;44(2):

See these in context on the Astragalus monograph →

Dong Quai 19 references
  1. Hirata JD, Swiersz LM, Zell B, et al. Does dong quai have estrogenic effects in postmenopausal women? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril 1997;68:981-6. PubMed
  2. Page RL II, Lawrence JD. Potentiation of warfarin by dong quai. Pharmacotherapy 1999;19:870-6. PubMed
  3. Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000;57:1221-7. DOI
  4. Eagon PK, Elm MS, Hunter DS, et al. Medicinal herbs: modulation of estrogen action. Era of Hope Mtg, Dept Defense; Breast Cancer Res Prog, Atlanta, GA 2000;Jun 8-11.
  5. Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/.
  6. Amato P, Christophe S, Mellon PL. Estrogenic activity of herbs commonly used as remedies for menopausal symptoms. Menopause 2002;9:145-50. PubMed
  7. Shi M, Chang L, He G. [Stimulating action of Carthamus tinctorius L., Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and Leonurus sibiricus L. on the uterus]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 1995;20:173-5, 192.
  8. Hoult JR, Paya M. Pharmacological and biochemical actions of simple coumarins: natural products with therapeutic potential. Gen Pharmacol 1996;27:713-22.. PubMed
  9. Cheong JL, Bucknall R. Retinal vein thrombosis associated with a herbal phytoestrogen preparation in a susceptible patient. Postgrad Med J 2005;81:266-7.. PubMed
  10. Chang CJ, Chiu JH, Tseng LM, et al. Modulation of HER2 expression by ferulic acid on human breast cancer MCF7 cells. Eur J Clin Invest 2006;36:588-96. PubMed
  11. Chuang CH, Doyle P, Wang JD, et al. Herbal medicines used during the first trimester and major congenital malformations: an analysis of data from a pregnancy cohort study. Drug Saf 2006;29:537-48. PubMed
  12. Lau CBS, Ho TCY, Chan TWL, Kim SCF. Use of dong quai (Angelica sinensis) to treat peri- and postmenopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer: is it appropriate? Menopause 2005;12:734-40.
  13. Ellis GR, Stephens MR. Untitled (photograph and a brief case report). BMJ 1999;319:650.
  14. Nambiar, S., Schwartz, R. H., and Constantino, A. Hypertension in mother and baby linked to ingestion of Chinese herbal medicine. West J Med 1999;171(3):152.
  15. Lee, S. K., Cho, H. K., Cho, S. H., Kim, S. S., Nahm, D. H., and Park, H. S. Occupational asthma and rhinitis caused by multiple herbal agents in a pharmacist. Ann.Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2001;86(4):469-474. PubMed
  16. Xu, J. and Li, G. [Observation on short-term effects of Angelica injection on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with pulmonary hypertension]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 2000;20(3):187-189.
  17. Scott, G. N. and Elmer, G. W. Update on natural product--drug interactions. Am J Health Syst.Pharm 2-15-2002;59(4):339-347. PubMed
  18. Circosta, C., Pasquale, R. D., Palumbo, D. R., Samperi, S., and Occhiuto, F. Estrogenic activity of standardized extract of Angelica sinensis. Phytother.Res. 2006;20(8):665-669.
  19. Fung FY, Wong WH, Ang SK, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled study on the anti-haemostatic effects of Curcuma longa, Angelica sinensis and Panax ginseng. Phytomedicine. 2017;32:88-96. PubMed

See these in context on the Dong Quai monograph →

Atractylodes 6 references
  1. Liu Y, Jia Z, Dong L, et al. A randomized pilot study of atractylenolide I on gastric cancer cachexia patients. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2008;5:337-44. PubMed
  2. Chen Y, Yang W, Guo L, Wu X, Zhang T, Liu J, Zhang J. Atractylodes lactone compounds inhibit platelet activation. Platelets. 2017 Mar;28(2):194-202. PubMed
  3. Jiang H, Shi J, Li Y. Screening for compounds with aromatase inhibiting activities from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. Molecules. 2011 Apr 14;16(4):3146-51. PubMed
  4. Koonrungsesomboon N, Na-Bangchang K, Karbwang J. Therapeutic potential and pharmacological activities of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2014 Jun;7(6):421-8. PubMed
  5. Li L, Tang LY, Man GC, Yeung BH, Lau CB, Leung PC, Wang CC. Potential reproductive toxicity of Largehead Atractylodes Rhizome, the most commonly used Chinese medicine for threatened miscarriage. Hum Reprod. 2011 Dec;26(12):3280-8. PubMed
  6. Muhamad N, Plengsuriyakarn T, Na-Bangchang K. Atractylodes lancea for cholangiocarcinoma: Modulatory effects on CYP1A2 and CYP3A1 and pharmacokinetics in rats and biodistribution in mice. PLoS One 2022;17(11):e0277614. PubMed

See these in context on the Atractylodes monograph →

Poria Mushroom 3 references
  1. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Kim H, Park I, Park K, Park S, Kim YI, Park BG. The positive effects of Poria cocos extract on quality of sleep in insomnia rat models. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;19(11):6629. PubMed
  3. Lv Q, Di X, Bian B, Li K, Guo J. Neuroprotective effects of Poria cocos (Agaricomycetes) essential oil on Aß1-40-induced learning and memory deficit in rats. Int J Med Mushrooms 2022;24(10):73-82.

See these in context on the Poria Mushroom monograph →

Zizyphus 15 references
  1. Adzu, B., Amos, S., Dzarma, S., Wambebe, C., and Gamaniel, K. Effect of Zizyphus spina-christi Willd aqueous extract on the central nervous system in mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;79(1):13-16.
  2. Cisse, A., Ndiaye, A., Lopez-Sall, P., Seck, F., Faye, B., and Faye, B. [Antidiabetic activity of Zizyphus mauritiana Lam (Rhamnaceae)]. Dakar Med 2000;45(2):105-107.
  3. Abdel-Zaher, A. O., Salim, S. Y., Assaf, M. H., and Abdel-Hady, R. H. Antidiabetic activity and toxicity of Zizyphus spina-christi leaves. J Ethnopharmacol. 10-3-2005;101(1-3):129-138. PubMed
  4. Nesseem, D. I., Michel, C. G., Sleem, A. A., and El-Alfy, T. S. Formulation and evaluation of antihyperglycemic leaf extracts of Zizyphus spina-christi (L.) Willd. Pharmazie 2009;64(2):104-109. DOI
  5. Anand, K. K., Singh, B., Chand, D., Chandan, B. K., and Gupta, V. N. Effect of Zizyphus sativa leaves on blood glucose levels in normal and alloxan-diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 1989;27(1-2):121-127. PubMed
  6. Morishita, S., Mishima, Y., Hirai, Y., Saito, T., and Shoji, M. Pharmacological studies of water extract of the Zizyphus seed and the Zizyphus seed containing drug. Gen Pharmacol 1987;18(6):637-641. PubMed
  7. Watanabe, I., Saito, H., and Takagi, K. Pharmacological studies of Zizyphus seeds. Jpn J Pharmacol 1973;23(4):563-571. DOI
  8. Wu, S. X., Zhang, J. X., Xu, T., Li, L. F., Zhao, S. Y., and Lan, M. Y. [Effects of seeds, leaves and fruits of Ziziphus spinosa and jujuboside A on central nervous system function]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 1993;18(11):685-4.
  9. Glombitza, K. W., Mahran, G. H., Mirhom, Y. W., Michel, K. G., and Motawi, T. K. Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects of Zizyphus spina-christi in rats. Planta Med 1994;60(3):244-247.
  10. Jarald, E. E., Joshi, S. B., and Jain, D. C. Antidiabetic activity of extracts and fraction of <it>Zizyphus mauritiana. Pharmaceutical Biology 2009;47:328-334.
  11. Ebrahimimd S, Ashkani-Esfahani S, Poormahmudibs A. Investigating the efficacy of zizyphus jujuba on neonatal jaundice. Iran J Pediatr. 2011 Sep;21(3):320-4.
  12. Hajhashemi V, Safaei A. Hypnotic effect of Coriandrum sativum, Ziziphus jujuba, Lavandula angustifolia and Melissa officinalis extracts in mice. Res Pharm Sci. 2015 Nov-Dec;10(6):477-84.
  13. Jing XY, Peng YR, Wang XM, Duan JA. Effects of Ziziphus jujuba fruit extracts on cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2) activity in rats. Chin J Nat Med. 2015 Aug;13(8):588-94. PubMed
  14. Irannejad Niri Z, Shidfar F, Jabbari M, et al. The effect of dried Ziziphus vulgaris on glycemic control, lipid profile, apo-proteins and hs-CRP in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled clinical trial. J Food Biochem 2020; Mar 30
  15. Shergis JL, Hyde A, Meaklim H, Varma P, Da Costa C, Jackson ML. Medicinal seeds Ziziphus spinosa for insomnia: a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, feasibility clinical trial. Complement Ther Med 2021;57:102657. PubMed

See these in context on the Zizyphus monograph →

Licorice 92 references
  1. Farese RV Jr, Biglieri EG, Shackleton CH, et al. Licorice-induced hypermineralocorticoidism. N Engl J Med 1991;325:1223-7. PubMed
  2. Sigurjonsdottir HA, Ragnarsson J, Franzson L, Sigurdsson G. Is blood pressure commonly raised by moderate consumption of liquorice? J Hum Hypertens 1995;9:345-8.
  3. Armanini D, Lewicka S, Pratesi C, et al. Further studies on the mechanism of the mineralocorticoid action of licorice in humans. J Endocrinol Invest 1996;19:624-9. PubMed
  4. Zhang YD, Lorenzo B, Reidenberg MM. Inhibition of 11 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase obtained from guinea pig kidney by furosemide, naringenin and some other compounds. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1994;49:81-5.
  5. Strandberg TE, Jarvenpaa AL, Vanhanen H, McKeigue PM. Birth outcome in relation to licorice consumption during pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol 2001;153:1085-8. PubMed
  6. Sigurjonsdottir HA, Franzson L, Manhem K, et al. Liquorice-induced rise in blood pressure: a linear dose-response relationship. J Hum Hypertens 2001;15:549-52. PubMed
  7. Amato P, Christophe S, Mellon PL. Estrogenic activity of herbs commonly used as remedies for menopausal symptoms. Menopause 2002;9:145-50. PubMed
  8. Kent UM, Aviram M, Rosenblat M, Hollenberg PF. The licorice root derived isoflavan glabridin inhibits the activities of human cytochrome P450S 3A4, 2B6, and 2C9. Drug Metab Dispos 2002;30:709-15.. PubMed
  9. Yoshida S, Takayama Y. Licorice-induced hypokalemia as a treatable cause of dropped head syndrome. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2003;105:286-7.. PubMed
  10. Strandberg TE, Andersson S, Jarvenpaa AL, et al. Preterm birth and licorice consumption during pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol 2002;156:803-5.. PubMed
  11. Hussain RM. The sweet cake that reaches parts other cakes can't! Postgrad Med J 2003;79:115-6.. PubMed
  12. Morris DJ, Davis E, Latif SA. Licorice, tobacco chewing, and hypertension. N Engl J Med 1990;322:849-50. PubMed
  13. Quinkler M, Stewart PM. Hypertension and the cortisol-cortisone shuttle. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003;88:2384-92. PubMed
  14. Westman EC, Guthrie GP. Licorice, tobacco chewing, and hypertension. N Engl J Med 1990;322:850. PubMed
  15. Mu Y, Zhang J, Zhang S, et al. Traditional Chinese medicines Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra chinensis Baill) and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch) activate pregnane X receptor and increase warfarin clearance in rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2006;316:1369-77. PubMed
  16. Yasue H, Itoh T, Mizuno Y, Harada E. Severe hypokalemia, rhabdomyolysis, muscle paralysis, and respiratory impairment in a hypertensive patient taking herbal medicines containing licorice. Intern Med 2007;46:575-8. PubMed
  17. Brayley J, Jones J. Life-threatening hypokalemia associated with excessive licorice ingestion (letter). Am J Psychiatry 1994;151:617-8. PubMed
  18. de Klerk GJ, Nieuwenhuis G, Beutler JJ. Hypokalaemia and hypertension associated with use of liquorice flavoured chewing gum. BMJ 1997;314:731-2.
  19. Dellow EL, Unwin RJ, Honour JW. Pontefract cakes can be bad for you: refractory hypertension and liquorice excess. Nephol Dial Transplant 1999;14:218-20. PubMed
  20. Elinav E, Chajek-Shaul T. Licorice consumption causing severe hypokalemic paralysis. Mayo Clin Proc 2003;78:767-8. PubMed
  21. Eriksson JW, Carlberg B, Hillom V. Life-threatening ventricular tachycardia due to liquorice-induced hypokalemia. J Intern Med 1999;245:307-10.
  22. Janse A, van Iersel M, Hoefnagels WH, Olde Rikker MG. The old lady who liked liquorice: hypertension due to chronic intoxication in a memory-impaired patient. Neth J Med 2005;63:149-50.
  23. Lin SH, Yang SS, Chau T, Halperin ML. An unusual cause of hypokalemic paralysis: chronic licorice ingestion. Am J Med Sci 2003;325:153-6. PubMed
  24. van den Bosch AE, van der Klooster JM, Zuidgeest DM, et al. Severe hypokalemic paralysis and rhabdomyolysis due to ingestion of liquorice. Neth J Med 2005;63:146-8.
  25. van Uum SH. Liquorice and hypertension. Neth J Med 2005;63:119-20.
  26. Russo S, Mastropasqua M, Mosetti MA, et al. Low doses of liquorice can induce hypertension encephalopathy. Am J Nephrol 2000;20:145-8. PubMed
  27. Stormer FC, Reistad R, Alexander J. Glycyrrhizic acid in liquorice - evaluation of health hazard. Food Chem Toxicol 1993;31:303-12. PubMed
  28. Sontia B, Mooney J, Gaudet L, Touyz RM. Pseudohyperaldosteronism, liquorice, and hypertension. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2008;10:153-7. PubMed
  29. Francini-Pesenti F, Puato M, Piccoli A, Brocadello F. Liquorice-induced hypokalaemia and water retention in the absence of hypertension. Phytother Res 2008;22:563-5. PubMed
  30. Lapi F, Gallo E, Bernasconi S, et al. Myopathies associated with red yeast rice and liquorice: spontaneous reports from the Italian Surveillance System of Natural Health Products. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2008;66:572-4. PubMed
  31. Chen MF, Shimada F, Kato H, Yano S, Kanaoka M. Effect of glycyrrhizin on the pharmacokinetics of prednisolone following low dosage of prednisolone hemisuccinate. Endocrinol Jpn 1990;37:331-41. PubMed
  32. Teelucksingh S, Mackie AD, Burt D, McIntyre MA, Brett L, Edwards CR. Potentiation of hydrocortisone activity in skin by glycyrrhetinic acid. Lancet 1990;335(8697):1060-3. PubMed
  33. Heidemann HT, Kreuzfelder E. Hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis with myoglobinuria due to licorice ingestion and diuretic treatment. Klin Wochenschr 1983;61:303-5. PubMed
  34. Hukkanen J, Ukkola O, Savolainen MJ. Effects of low-dose liquorice alone or in combination with hydrochlorothiazide on the plasma potassium in healthy volunteers. Blood Press 2009;18:192-5. PubMed
  35. Bisogni V, Rossi GP, Calò LA. Apparent mineralcorticoid excess syndrome, an often forgotten or unrecognized cause of hypokalemia and hypertension: case report and appraisal of the pathophysiology. Blood Press. 2014 Jun;23(3):189-92. PubMed
  36. Dehours E, Vallé B, Rougé-Bugat ME, Florent B, Bounes V, Franchitto N. Suspected hypokalaemia following liquorice ingestion on board ship. J Telemed Telecare. 2013 Jun;19(4):227-8. PubMed
  37. Kormann R, Languille E, Amiot HM, Hertig A. Dying for a cup of tea. BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Oct 19;2012. PubMed
  38. Panduranga P, Al-Rawahi N. Licorice-induced severe hypokalemia with recurrent torsade de pointes. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol. 2013 Nov;18(6):593-6. PubMed
  39. Räikkönen K, Seckl JR, Heinonen K, Pyhälä R, Feldt K, Jones A, Pesonen AK, Phillips DI, Lahti J, Järvenpää AL, Eriksson JG, Matthews KA, Strandberg TE, Kajantie E. Maternal prenatal licorice consumption alters hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis fu
  40. Robles BJ, Sandoval AR, Dardon JD, Blas CA. Lethal liquorice lollies (liquorice abuse causing pseudohyperaldosteronism). BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Sep 19;2013. PubMed
  41. Chamberlain, J. J. and Abolnik, I. Z. Pulmonary edema following a licorice binge. West J Med 1997;167(3):184-185.
  42. Barrella, M., Lauria, G., Quatrale, R., and Paolino, E. Hypokaliemic rhabdomyolysis associated with liquorice ingestion: report of an atypical case. Ital.J Neurol.Sci 1997;18(4):217-220. PubMed
  43. Fugh-Berman, A. Herb-drug interactions. Lancet 2000;355(9198):134-138. PubMed
  44. Hasegawa, J., Suyama, Y., Kinugawa, T., Morisawa, T., and Kishimoto, Y. Echocardiographic findings of the heart resembling dilated cardiomyopathy during hypokalemic myopathy due to licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism. Cardiovasc.Drugs Ther 1998;12(6):59 PubMed
  45. van Rossum, T. G., Vulto, A. G., Hop, W. C., Brouwer, J. T., Niesters, H. G., and Schalm, S. W. Intravenous glycyrrhizin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase I/II trial. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 199 PubMed
  46. Lozano, P., Flores, D., Martinez, S., Artigues, I., Rimbau, E. M., and Gomez, F. Upper limb ischemia induced by chronic licorice ingestion. J Cardiovasc.Surg (Torino) 2000;41(4):631-632.
  47. Brouwers, A. J. and van der, Meulen J. ['Licorice hypertension' also caused by licorice tea]. Ned.Tijdschr Geneeskd. 4-14-2001;145(15):744-747.
  48. van Rossum, T. G., Vulto, A. G., Hop, W. C., and Schalm, S. W. Glycyrrhizin-induced reduction of ALT in European patients with chronic hepatitis C. Am J Gastroenterol 2001;96(8):2432-2437. PubMed
  49. Sigurjonsdottir, H. A., Manhem, K., Axelson, M., and Wallerstedt, S. Subjects with essential hypertension are more sensitive to the inhibition of 11 beta-HSD by liquorice. J Hum Hypertens 2003;17(2):125-131.
  50. Shintani, S., Murase, H., Tsukagoshi, H., and Shiigai, T. Glycyrrhizin (licorice)-induced hypokalemic myopathy. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature. Eur Neurol 1992;32(1):44-51. PubMed
  51. Chen, M. F., Shimada, F., Kato, H., Yano, S., and Kanaoka, M. Effect of oral administration of glycyrrhizin on the pharmacokinetics of prednisolone. Endocrinol Jpn 1991;38(2):167-174. PubMed
  52. Lee, C. K., Park, K. K., Lim, S. S., Park, J. H., and Chung, W. Y. Effects of the licorice extract against tumor growth and cisplatin-induced toxicity in a mouse xenograft model of colon cancer. Biol Pharm Bull 2007;30(11):2191-2195. PubMed
  53. Isaia, G. C., Pellissetto, C., Ravazzoli, M., and Tamone, C. Acute adrenal crisis and hypercalcemia in a patient assuming high liquorice doses. Minerva Med 2008;99(1):91-94.
  54. Bocker, D. and Breithardt, G. [Induction of arrhythmia by licorice abuse]. Z Kardiol 1991;80(6):389-391.
  55. Tacconi, P., Paribello, A., Cannas, A., and Marrosu, M. G. Carpal tunnel syndrome triggered by excessive licorice consumption. J Peripher.Nerv.Syst. 2009;14(1):64-65. PubMed
  56. Tu, J. H., He, Y. J., Chen, Y., Fan, L., Zhang, W., Tan, Z. R., Huang, Y. F., Guo, D., Hu, D. L., Wang, D., and Hong-Hao Zhou. Effect of glycyrrhizin on the activity of CYP3A enzyme in humans. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2010;66(8):805-810. PubMed
  57. Goultschin, J., Palmon, S., Shapira, L., Brayer, L., and Gedalia, I. Effect of glycyrrhizin-containing toothpaste on dental plaque reduction and gingival health in humans. A pilot study. J Clin Periodontol 1991;18(3):210-212. PubMed
  58. Scali, M., Pratesi, C., Zennaro, M. C., Zampollo, V., and Armanini, D. Pseudohyperaldosteronism from liquorice-containing laxatives. J Endocrinol Invest 1990;13(10):847-848. PubMed
  59. Chatterjee, N., Domoto-Reilly, K., Fecci, P. E., Schwamm, L. H., and Singhal, A. B. Licorice-associated reversible cerebral vasoconstriction with PRES. Neurology 2010;75(21):1939-1941. PubMed
  60. Imtiaz, K. E. Sweet root, bitter pill: liquorice-induced hyperaldosteronism. QJM 2011;104(12):1093-1095. PubMed
  61. van Beers, E. J., Stam, J., and van den Bergh, W. M. Licorice consumption as a cause of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: a case report. Crit Care 2011;15(1):R64. PubMed
  62. MacKenzie, M. A., Hoefnagels, W. H., Jansen, R. W., Benraad, T. J., and Kloppenborg, P. W. The influence of glycyrrhetinic acid on plasma cortisol and cortisone in healthy young volunteers. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990;70(6):1637-1643. PubMed
  63. Bardhan, K. D., Cumberland, D. C., Dixon, R. A., and Holdsworth, C. D. Clinical trial of deglycyrrhizinised liquorice in gastric ulcer. Gut 1978;19(9):779-782. PubMed
  64. Koster, M. and David, G. K. Reversible severe hypertension due to licorice ingestion. N Engl J Med 1968;278(25):1381-1383. PubMed
  65. Corse, F. M., Galgani, S., Gasparini, C., Giacanelli, M., and Piazza, G. Acute hypokalemic myopathy due to chronic licorice ingestion: report of a case. Ital J Neurol Sci 1983;4(4):493-497. PubMed
  66. Berlango Jimenez A., Jimenez Murillo L., Montero Perez F. J., Munoz Avila J. A., Torres Murillo J., and Calderon de la Barca Gazquez J. M. [Acute rhabdomyolysis and tetraparesis secondary to hypokalemia due to ingested licorice]. An Med Interna 1995;12(1)
  67. Bernardi, M., D'Intino, P. E., Trevisani, F., Cantelli-Forti, G., Raggi, M. A., Turchetto, E., and Gasbarrini, G. Effects of prolonged ingestion of graded doses of licorice by healthy volunteers. Life Sci 1994;55(11):863-872. PubMed
  68. van der Zwan A. Hypertension encephalopathy after liquorice ingestion. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 1993;95(1):35-37. PubMed
  69. Werner, S., Brismar, K., and Olsson, S. Hyperprolactinaemia and liquorice. Lancet 2-10-1979;1(8111):319.
  70. Nishioka, K. and Seguchi, T. Contact allergy due to oil-soluble licorice extracts in cosmetic products. Contact Dermatitis 1999;40(1):56. PubMed
  71. Yoshino T, Yanagawa T, Watanabe K. Risk factors for pseudoaldosteronism with rhabdomyolysis caused by consumption of drugs containing licorice and differences between incidence of these conditions in Japan and other countries: case report and literature r
  72. Li G, Simmler C, Chen L, et al. Cytochrome P450 inhibition by three licorice species and fourteen licorice constituents. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2017;109:182-190. PubMed
  73. Li J, Fan X, Wang Q. Hypertensive crisis with 2 target organ impairment induced by glycyrrhizin: a case report. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018;97(11):e0073. PubMed
  74. Foster CA, Church KS, Poddar M, Van Uum SH, Spaic T. Licorice-induced hypertension: a case of pseudohyperaldosteronism due to jelly bean ingestion. Postgrad Med 2017;129(3):329-31. PubMed
  75. Gallacher SD, Tsokolas G, Dimitropoulos I. Liquorice-induced apparent mineralocorticoid excess presenting in the emergency department. Clin Med (Lond) 2017;17(1):43-5. PubMed
  76. Dai DW, Singh I, Hershman JM. Lozenge-induced hypermineralcorticoid state--a unique case of licorice lozenges resulting in hypertension and hypokalemia. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2016;18(2):159-60.
  77. O'Connell K, Kinsella J, McMahon C, Holian J, O'Riordan S. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) associated with liquorice consumption. Ir J Med Sci 2016;185(4):945-7. PubMed
  78. Hataya Y, Oba A, Yamashita T, Komatsu Y. Hyponatremia in an elderly patient due to isolated hypoaldosteronism occurring after licorice withdrawal. Intern Med 2017;56(2):175-9. PubMed
  79. Ha Y, Wang T, Li J, et al. Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Licorice Extract and Paclitaxel: A Pharmacokinetic Study in Rats. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2020;45(2):257-264. PubMed
  80. Edelman ER, Butala NM, Avery LL, Lundquist AL, Dighe AS. Case 30-2020: A 54-Year-Old Man with Sudden Cardiac Arrest. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(13):1263-1275. PubMed
  81. Wang H, Dong L, Qu F, et al. Effects of glycyrrhizin on the pharmacokinetics of nobiletin in rats and its potential mechanism. Pharm Biol. 2020 Dec;58(1):352-356. PubMed
  82. Attou R, Redant S, Honore PM, Preseau T, Hantson P, De Bels D. Liquorice intoxication can lead to cardiac arrest! Case Rep Emerg Med. 2020;2020:3727682. PubMed
  83. Benge E, Shah P, Yamaguchi L, Josef V. Trick or Treat? Licorice-Induced Hypokalemia: A Case Report. Cureus 2020;12(11):e11656. PubMed
  84. Abe K, Higurashi T, Takahashi M, et al. Concomitant Use of High-dose Methotrexate and Glycyrrhizin Affects Pharmacokinetics of Methotrexate, Resulting in Hepatic Toxicity. In Vivo 2021;35(4):2163-2169. PubMed
  85. Awad N, Makar G, Burroughs V, Ravi P, Burroughs SR. Licorice-induced apparent mineralocorticoid excess causing persistent hypertension and hypokalemia. Acta Endocrinol (Buchar) 2020;16(4):508-510. PubMed
  86. Patel P, Aknouk M, Dawson A, et al. How Much Is Too Much? Exploring Pseudohyperaldosteronism in Glycyrrhizic Acid Toxicity From Chronic Licorice Root Consumption. Cureus 2021;13(7):e16454. PubMed
  87. Fan ZJ, Liu JM, Li XX, et al. Glycyrrhizin-Induced Pseudohyperaldosteronism: A Case Report. Chin J Integr Med 2022. PubMed
  88. Gatica-Ortega ME, Pastor-Nieto MA. Allergic contact dermatitis to Glycyrrhiza inflata root extract in an anti-acne cosmetic product. Contact Dermatitis 2021;85(4):454-455.
  89. Wang JB, Huang A, Wang Y, et al. Corticosteroid plus glycyrrhizin therapy for chronic drug- or herb-induced liver injury achieves biochemical and histological improvements: a randomised open-label trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2022;55(10):1297-1310. PubMed
  90. Puaratanaarunkon T, Washrawirul C, Chuenboonngarm N, Noppakun N, Asawanonda P, Kumtornrut C. Efficacy and safety of a facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glaba root extract in the treatment of maskne: A
  91. Haron MH, Dale O, Martin K, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Commonly Used Botanicals on the US Market with Regard to PXR- and AhR-Mediated Influences on CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. J Diet Suppl 2022. PubMed
  92. Han EJ, Park JS. Lethal Arrhythmia Induced by Licorice. J Korean Med Sci 2023;38(12):e107. PubMed

See these in context on the Licorice monograph →

St. John's Wort 152 references
  1. Miller LG. Herbal Medicinals: Selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med 1998;158:2200-11.
  2. Gulick RM, McAuliffe V, Holden-Wiltse J, et al. Phase I studies of hypericin, the active compound in St. John's Wort, as an antiretroviral agent in HIV-infected adults. AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocols 150 and 258. Ann Intern Med 1999;130:510-4. PubMed
  3. O'Breasail AM, Argouarch S. Hypomania and St John's wort. Can J Psychiatry 1998;43:746-7.
  4. Johne A, Brockmoller J, Bauer S, et al. Pharmacokinetic interaction of digoxin with an herbal extract from St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). Clin Pharmacol Ther 1999;66:338-45.
  5. Gordon JB. SSRIs and St. John's Wort: possible toxicity? Am Fam Physician 1998;57:950, 953.
  6. Golsch S, Vocks E, Rakoski J, et al. [Reversible increase in photosensitivity to UV-B caused by St. John's wort extract]. Hautarzt 1997;48:249-52.
  7. Bove GM. Acute neuropathy after exposure to sun in a patient treated with St. John's Wort. Lancet 1998;352:1121-2. PubMed
  8. Brockmoller J, Reum T, Bauer S, et al. Hypericin and pseudohypericin: pharmacokinetics and effects on photosensitivity in humans. Pharmacopsychiatry 1997;30:94-101. PubMed
  9. Upton R, ed. St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum: Quality control, analytical and therapeutic monograph. Santa Cruz, CA: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1997;1-32.
  10. Muller WE, Singer A, Wonnemann M, et al. Hyperforin represents the neurotransmitter reuptake inhibiting constituent of hypericum extract. Pharmacopsychiatry 1998;31:16-21.
  11. Abul-Ezz SR, Barone GW, Gurley BJ, et al. Effect of herbal supplements on cyclosporine blood levels and associated acute rejection. Am Soc of Nephrol Ann Mtg, Toronto, CAN 2000;Oct. 11-16:abstract A3754.
  12. Piscitelli SC, Burstein AH, Chaitt D, et al. Indinavir concentrations and St John's wort. Lancet 2000;355:547-8. PubMed
  13. Yue QY, Bergquist C, Gerden B. Safety of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). Lancet 2000;355:576-7. PubMed
  14. Ruschitzka F, Meier PJ, Turina M, et al. Acute heart transplant rejection due to Saint John's wort. Lancet 2000;355:548-9. PubMed
  15. Roberts JE, Wang RH, Tan IP, et al. Hypericin (active ingredient in St. John's wort) photo-oxidation of lens proteins. Photochem Photobiol 1999;69:42S.
  16. Gurley BJ, Barone GW. Herb-drug interaction involving St. John's wort and cyclosporine. AAPS Ann Mtg & Expo Indianapolis, IN:2000;Oct 29- Nov 2: presentation #3443.
  17. Durr D, Stieger B, Kullak-Ublick GA, et al. St. John's Wort induces intestinal P-glycoprotein/MDR1 and intestinal and hepatic CYP3A4. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;68:598-604. PubMed
  18. Lee A, Minhas R, Ito S, et al. Safety of St. John's wort during breastfeeding. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;67:130, abstract PII-64.
  19. Schneck C. St. John's wort and hypomania. J Clin Psychiatry 1998;59:689. PubMed
  20. Nierenberg AA, Burt T, Matthews J, et al. Mania associated with St. John's wort. Biol Psychiatry 1999;46:1707-8. PubMed
  21. Nebel A, Schneider BJ, Baker RA, et al. Potential metabolic interaction between St. John's wort and theophylline. Ann Pharmacother 1999;33:502. PubMed
  22. Moses EL, Mallinger AG. St. John's wort: Three cases of possible mania induction. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2000;20:115-7. PubMed
  23. Beckman SE, Sommi RW, Switzer J. Consumer use of St. John's wort: A survey of effectiveness, safety, and tolerability. Pharmacotherapy 2000;20:568-74.
  24. Peirce A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. New York, NY: William Morrow and Co., 1999.
  25. Mai I, Kruger H, Budde K, et al. Hazardous pharmacokinetic interaction of Saint John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) with the immunosuppressant cyclosporin. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;38:500-2. PubMed
  26. Schempp CM, Muller K, Winghofer B, et al. Single-dose and steady-state administration of Hypericum perfotatum extract (St. John's wort) does not influence skin sensitivity to UV radiation, visible light, and solar-stimulated radiation. Arch Dermatol 2001;
  27. Schempp CM, Ludtke R, Winghofer B, Simon JC. Effect of topical application of hypericum perforatum extract on skin sensitivity to solar simulated radiation. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2000;16:125-8.
  28. Jacobson JM, Feinman L, Liebes L, et al. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and antiviral effects of hypericin, a derivative of St. John's Wort plant, in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2001;45:517-24. PubMed
  29. Moschella C, Jaber BL. Interaction between cyclosporine and Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) after organ transplantation. Amer J Kidney Dis 2001;38:1105-7. PubMed
  30. Karliova M, Treichel U, Malago M, et al. Interaction of Hypericum perforatum (SJW) with cyclosporin A metabolism in a patient after liver transplantation. J Hepatol 2000;33:853-5.
  31. Mandelbaum A, Pertzborn F, Martin-Facklam M, Wiesel M. Unexplained decrease of cyclosporin trough levels in a compliant renal transplant patient. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2000;15:1473-4. PubMed
  32. Assalian P. Sildenafil for SJW-induced sexual dysfunction. J Sex Marital Ther 2000;26:357-8.
  33. de Maat M, Hoetelmans R, Mathot R, et al. Drug interaction between St. John's wort and nevirapine. AIDS 2001;15:420-1. PubMed
  34. Schrader E. Equivalence of St. John's wort extract (Ze 117) and fluoxetine: a randomized, controlled study in mild-moderate depression. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2000;15:61-8.
  35. Ernst E, Rand JI, Barnes J, Stevinson C. Adverse effects profile of the herbal antidepressant St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.). Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1998;54:589-94. PubMed
  36. Shelton RC, Keller MB, Gelenberg A, et al. Effectiveness of St. John's wort in major depression: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. JAMA 2001;285:1978-86. DOI
  37. Breidenbach T, Hoffmann MW, Becker T, et al. Drug interaction of St. John's wort with cyclosporin. Lancet 2000;355:1912.
  38. Brown TM. Acute St. John's wort toxicity. Am J Emerg Med 2000;18:231-2. PubMed
  39. Kleber E, Obry T, Hippeli S, et al. Biochemical activities of extracts from Hypericum perforatum L. 1st Communication: inhibition of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. Arzneimittelforschung 1999;49:106-9.
  40. Barone GW, Gurley BJ, Ketel BL, et al. Drug interaction between St. John's wort and cyclosporin. Ann Pharmacother 2000;34:1013-6.
  41. Cheng TO. St. John's wort interaction with digoxin [letter]. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:2548. PubMed
  42. Lane-Brown MM. Photosensitivity associated with herbal preparations of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). Med J Aust 2000;172:302.
  43. Mathijssen RHJ, Verweij J, De Bruijn P, et al. Modulation of irinotecan (CPT-11) metabolism by St. John's wort in cancer patients. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, San Francisco, April 2002. Abstract 2443.
  44. Mai I, Bauer S, Krueger H, et al. Wechselwirkungen von Johaniskraut mit tacrolismus bei nierentransplantierten patienten. Symposium Phytopharmaka VII. Forschung und Klinische Anwendung, Berlin, October, 2001.
  45. Bhopal JS. St John's wort-induced sexual dysfunction. Can J Psychiatry 2001;46:456-457. PubMed
  46. Schulz V. Incidence and clinical relevance of the interactions and side effects of Hypericum preparations. Phytomedicine 2001;8:152-60.
  47. Gorski JC, Hamman MA, Wang Z, et al. The effect of St. John's wort on the efficacy of oral contraceptives (abstract MPI-80). Clin Pharmacol Ther 2001;71:P25.
  48. Hennessy M, Kelleher D, Spiers JP, et al. St Johns wort increases expression of P-glycoprotein: implications for drug interactions. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2002;53:75-82.
  49. Parker V, Wong AH, Boon HS, Seeman MV. Adverse reactions to St John's Wort. Can J Psychiatry 2001;46:77-9. PubMed
  50. Patel S, Robinson R, Burk M. Hypertensive crisis associated with St. John's Wort. Am J Med 2002;112:507-8. PubMed
  51. Singhal AB, Caviness VS, Begleiter AF, et al. Cerebral vasoconstriction and stroke after use of serotonergic drugs. Neurology 2002;58:130-3. PubMed
  52. Holme SA, Roberts DL. Erythroderma associated with St John's wort. Br J Dermatol 2000;143:1127-8. PubMed
  53. Irefin S, Sprung J. A possible cause of cardiovascular collapse during anesthesia: long-term use of St. John's Wort. J Clin Anesth 2000;12:498-9. PubMed
  54. Calapai G, Crupi A, Firenzuoli F, et al. Serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine involvement in the antidepressant action of hypericum perforatum. Pharmacopsychiatry 2001;34:45-9. PubMed
  55. Henderson L, Yue QY, Bergquist C, et al. St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum): drug interactions and clinical outcomes. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2002;54:349-56..
  56. Mathijssen RH, Verweij J, de Bruijn P, et al. Effects of St. John's wort on irinotecan metabolism. J Natl Cancer Inst 2002;94:1247-9.. PubMed
  57. Ladner DP, Klein SD, Steiner RA, Walt H. Synergistic toxicity of delta-aminolaevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX used for photodiagnosis and hypericum extract, a herbal antidepressant. Br J Dermatol 2001;144:916-8. PubMed
  58. Ernst E. St. John's Wort supplements endanger the success of organ transplantation. Arch Surg 2002;137:316-9. PubMed
  59. Wang Z, Hamman MA, Huang SM, et al. Effect of St. John's wort on the pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2002;71:414-20.. PubMed
  60. Chan LY, Chiu PY, Lau TK. A study of hypericin-induced teratogenicity during organogenesis using a whole rat embryo culture model. Fertil Steril 2001;76:1073-4. PubMed
  61. Schwarz UI, Buschel B, Kirch W. Unwanted pregnancy on self-medication with St John's wort despite hormonal contraception. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2003;55:112-3. PubMed
  62. Logan JL, Ahmed J. Critical hypokalemic renal tubular acidosis due to Sjogren's syndrome: association with the purported immune stimulant echinacea. Clin Rheumatol 2003;22:158-9.
  63. Mai I, Stormer E, Bauer S, et al. Impact of St John's wort treatment on the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid in renal transplant patients. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2003;18:819-22.. PubMed
  64. Groning R, Breitkreutz J, Muller RS. Physico-chemical interactions between extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. and drugs. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2003;56:231-6.. PubMed
  65. Sugimoto K, Ohmori M, Tsuruoka S, et al. Different effects of St John's wort on the pharmacokinetics of simvastatin and pravastatin. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2001;70:518-24.. DOI
  66. Bauer S, Stormer E, Johne A, et al. Alterations in cyclosporin A pharmacokinetics and metabolism during treatment with St John's wort in renal transplant patients. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2003;55:203-11.. PubMed
  67. Markowitz JS, Donovan JL, DeVane CL, et al. Effect of St. John's wort on drug metabolism by induction of cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme. JAMA 2003;290:1500-4.. PubMed
  68. Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group. Effect of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) in major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2002;287:1807-14. PubMed
  69. Hammerness P, Basch E, Ulbricht C, et al. St. John's wort: a systematic review of adverse effects and drug interactions for the consultation psychiatrist. Psychosomatics 2003;44:271-82. PubMed
  70. Gurley BJ, Gardner SF, Hubbard MA, et al. Cytochrome P450 phenotypic ratios for predicting herb-drug interactions in humans. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2002;72:276-87.. PubMed
  71. Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Hana J, et al. In vitro inhibition of human cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of marker substrates by natural products. Phytomedicine 2003;10:334-42.. PubMed
  72. Kim RB. Drugs as P-glycoprotein substrates, inhibitors, and inducers. Drug Metab Rev 2002;34:47-54. PubMed
  73. Dean AJ, Moses GM, Vernon JM. Suspected withdrawal syndrome after cessation of St. John's wort. Ann Pharmacother 2003;37:150. PubMed
  74. Morimoto T, Kotegawa T, Tsutsumi K, et al. Effect of St. John's wort on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline in healthy volunteers. J Clin Pharmacol 2004;44:95-101. PubMed
  75. Pfrunder A, Schiesser M, Gerber S, et al. Interaction of St John's wort with low-dose oral contraceptive therapy: a randomized controlled trial. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2003;56:683-90. PubMed
  76. Hall SD, Wang Z, Huang SM, et al. The interaction between St John's wort and an oral contraceptive. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2003;74:525-35. PubMed
  77. Frye RF, Fitzgerald SM, Lagattuta TT, et al. Effect of St. John's wort on imatinib mesylate pharmacokinetics. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2004;76:323-9. PubMed
  78. Komoroski BJ, Zhang S, Cai H, et al. Induction and inhibition of cytochromes P450 by the St. John's wort constituent hyperforin in human hepatocyte cultures. Drug Metab Dispos 2004;32:512-8. PubMed
  79. Jiang X, Williams KM, Liauw WS, et al. Effect of St John's wort and ginseng on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2004;57:592-9. PubMed
  80. Shimizu K, Nakamura M, Isse K, Nathan PJ. First-episode psychosis after taking an extract of Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort). Hum Psychopharmacol 2004;19:275-6.
  81. Szegedi A, Kohnen R, Dienel A, Kieser M. Acute treatment of moderate to severe depression with hypericum extract WS 5570 (St John's wort): randomised controlled double blind non-inferiority trial versus paroxetine. BMJ 2005;330:503. PubMed
  82. Lau WC, Carville DGM, Guyer KE, et al. St. John's Wort Enhances the Platelet Inhibitory Effect of Clopidogrel in Clopidogrel "Resistant" Healthy Volunteers. American College of Cardiology Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL 2005: Presentation 1043-129.
  83. Murphy PA, Kern SE, Stanczyk FZ, Westhoff CL. Interaction of St. John's Wort with oral contraceptives: effects on the pharmacokinetics of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol, ovarian activity and breakthrough bleeding. Contraception 2005;71:402-8. PubMed
  84. Linde K, Knuppel L. Large-scale observational studies of hypericum extracts in patients with depressive disorders - a systematic review. Phytomedicine 2005;12:148-57. PubMed
  85. Dasgupta A, Hovanetz M, Olsen M, et al. Drug-herb interaction: effect of St John's wort on bioavailability and metabolism of procainamide in mice. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2007;131:1094-8. PubMed
  86. Dugoua JJ, Mills E, Perri D, Koren G. Safety and efficacy of St. John's wort (hypericum) during pregnancy and lactation. Can J Clin Pharmacol 2006;13:e268-76.
  87. Jiang X, Blair EY, McLachlan AJ. Investigation of the effects of herbal medicines on warfarin response in healthy subjects: a population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling approach. J Clin Pharmacol 2006;46:1370-8. PubMed
  88. Niederhofer H. St. John's wort may diminish methylphenidate's efficacy in treating patients suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Med Hypotheses 2007;68:1189. PubMed
  89. Bell EC, Ravis WR, Lloyd KB, Stokes TJ. Effects of St. John's wort supplementation on ibuprofen pharmacokinetics. Ann Pharmacother 2007;41:229-34. PubMed
  90. Booth JN, McGwin G. The association between self-reported cataracts and St. John's Wort. Curr Eye Res 2009;34:863-6. PubMed
  91. Samadi S, Khadivzadeh T, Emami A, et al. The effect of Hypericum perforatum on the wound healing and scar of cesarean. J Altern Complement Med 2010;16:113-7.
  92. Wang LS, Zhu B, Abd El-Aty A, et al. The influence of St. John's wort on CYP2C19 activity with respect to genotype. J Clin Pharmacol 2004;44:577-81. PubMed
  93. Weber W, Vander Stoep A, McCarty RL, et al. Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2008;299:2633-41. PubMed
  94. Lee, A., Minhas, R., Matsuda, N., Lam, M., and Ito, S. The safety of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) during breastfeeding. J Clin Psychiatry 2003;64(8):966-968.
  95. Eich-Hochli, D., Oppliger, R., Golay, K. P., Baumann, P., and Eap, C. B. Methadone maintenance treatment and St. John's Wort - a case report. Pharmacopsychiatry 2003;36(1):35-37. PubMed
  96. Smith M, Lin KM, and Zheng YP. PIII-89 an open trial of nifedipine-herb interactions: Nifedipine with St. John's wort, ginseng or ginkgo biloba. Clin Pharm Ther 2001;69:P86.
  97. Kawaguchi, A., Ohmori, M., Tsuruoka, S., Nishiki, K., Harada, K., Miyamori, I., Yano, R., Nakamura, T., Masada, M., and Fujimura, A. Drug interaction between St John's Wort and quazepam. Br.J.Clin Pharmacol. 2004;58(4):403-410. PubMed
  98. Dresser, G. K., Schwarz, U. I., Wilkinson, G. R., and Kim, R. B. Coordinate induction of both cytochrome P4503A and MDR1 by St John's wort in healthy subjects. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2003;73(1):41-50. PubMed
  99. Patel, J., Buddha, B., Dey, S., Pal, D., and Mitra, A. K. In vitro interaction of the HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir with herbal constituents: changes in P-gp and CYP3A4 activity. Am.J.Ther. 2004;11(4):262-277. PubMed
  100. Xu, H., Williams, K. M., Liauw, W. S., Murray, M., Day, R. O., and McLachlan, A. J. Effects of St John's wort and CYP2C9 genotype on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of gliclazide. Br.J.Pharmacol. 2008;153(7):1579-1586.
  101. Wang, L. S., Zhou, G., Zhu, B., Wu, J., Wang, J. G., Abd El-Aty, A. M., Li, T., Liu, J., Yang, T. L., Wang, D., Zhong, X. Y., and Zhou, H. H. St John's wort induces both cytochrome P450 3A4-catalyzed sulfoxidation and 2C19-dependent hydroxylation of omepr
  102. Hojo, Y., Echizenya, M., Ohkubo, T., and Shimizu, T. Drug interaction between St John's wort and zolpidem in healthy subjects. J.Clin.Pharm.Ther. 2011;36(6):711-715. PubMed
  103. Izzo, A. A. and Ernst, E. Interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs: an updated systematic review. Drugs 2009;69(13):1777-1798. PubMed
  104. Barbenel, D. M., Yusufi, B., O'Shea, D., and Bench, C. J. Mania in a patient receiving testosterone replacement postorchidectomy taking St John's wort and sertraline. J Psychopharmacol 2000;14(1):84-86.
  105. Ratz, A. E., von Moos, M., and Drewe, J. [St. John's wort: a pharmaceutical with potentially dangerous interactions]. Schweiz Rundsch.Med Prax. 5-10-2001;90(19):843-849.
  106. Guzelcan, Y., Scholte, W. F., Assies, J., and Becker, H. E. [Mania during the use of a combination preparation with St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)]. Ned.Tijdschr.Geneeskd. 10-6-2001;145(40):1943-1945.
  107. van Gurp, G., Meterissian, G. B., Haiek, L. N., McCusker, J., and Bellavance, F. St John's wort or sertraline? Randomized controlled trial in primary care. Can Fam Physician 2002;48:905-912.
  108. Lecrubier, Y., Clerc, G., Didi, R., and Kieser, M. Efficacy of St. John's wort extract WS 5570 in major depression: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Psychiatry 2002;159(8):1361-1366. PubMed
  109. Schempp, C. M., Winghofer, B., Muller, K., Schulte-Monting, J., Mannel, M., Schopf, E., and Simon, J. C. Effect of oral administration of Hypericum perforatum extract (St. John's Wort) on skin erythema and pigmentation induced by UVB, UVA, visible light
  110. Zullino, D. and Borgeat, F. Hypertension induced by St. John's Wort - a case report. Pharmacopsychiatry 2003;36(1):32. PubMed
  111. Nanayakkara, P. W., Meijboom, M., and Schouten, J. A. [Suicidal and aggressive thoughts as a result of taking a Hypericum preparation (St. John's wort)]. Ned.Tijdschr.Geneeskd. 6-11-2005;149(24):1347-1349.
  112. Fava, M., Alpert, J., Nierenberg, A. A., Mischoulon, D., Otto, M. W., Zajecka, J., Murck, H., and Rosenbaum, J. F. A Double-blind, randomized trial of St John's wort, fluoxetine, and placebo in major depressive disorder. J.Clin.Psychopharmacol. 2005;25(5 PubMed
  113. Gastpar, M., Singer, A., and Zeller, K. Comparative efficacy and safety of a once-daily dosage of hypericum extract STW3-VI and citalopram in patients with moderate depression: a double-blind, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled study. Pharmacops PubMed
  114. Cappuzzo, K. A. Herbal product use in a patient with polypharmacy. Consult Pharm. 2006;21(11):911-915. PubMed
  115. Papakostas, G. I., Crawford, C. M., Scalia, M. J., and Fava, M. Timing of clinical improvement and symptom resolution in the treatment of major depressive disorder. A replication of findings with the use of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Hyp DOI
  116. Sardella, A., Lodi, G., Demarosi, F., Tarozzi, M., Canegallo, L., and Carrassi, A. Hypericum perforatum extract in burning mouth syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled study. J.Oral Pathol.Med. 2008;37(7):395-401.
  117. Etogo-Asse, F., Boemer, F., Sempoux, C., and Geubel, A. Acute hepatitis with prolonged cholestasis and disappearance of interlobular bile ducts following tibolone and Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort). Case of drug interaction? Acta Gastroenterol.Be
  118. Andreescu, C., Mulsant, B. H., and Emanuel, J. E. Complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of bipolar disorder--a review of the evidence. J.Affect.Disord. 2008;110(1-2):16-26. PubMed
  119. Kasper, S., Volz, H. P., Moller, H. J., Dienel, A., and Kieser, M. Continuation and long-term maintenance treatment with Hypericum extract WS 5570 after recovery from an acute episode of moderate depression--a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled
  120. Al-Akoum, M., Maunsell, E., Verreault, R., Provencher, L., Otis, H., and Dodin, S. Effects of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) on hot flashes and quality of life in perimenopausal women: a randomized pilot trial. Menopause. 2009;16(2):307-314. PubMed
  121. Brattstrom, A. Long-term effects of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) treatment: a 1-year safety study in mild to moderate depression. Phytomedicine. 2009;16(4):277-283. PubMed
  122. Canning, S., Waterman, M., Orsi, N., Ayres, J., Simpson, N., and Dye, L. The efficacy of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. CNS.Drugs 2010;24(3):207-225. PubMed
  123. Van Strater, A. C. and Bogers, J. P. Interaction of St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) with clozapine. Int.Clin.Psychopharmacol. 2012;27(2):121-124. PubMed
  124. Sultana D, Peindl KS Wisner KL. Rash associated with St. John's wort treatment in premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Arch Women Ment Health 2000;3:99-101. DOI
  125. Bernd A, Ramirez-Bosca A, Kippenberger S, and et al. Phototoxic effects of Hypericum extract in cultures of human keratinocytes compared with those of psoralen. Photochem Photobiol 1999;2(69):218-221.
  126. Woelk H, Burkard G, and Grunwald J. Nutzen und Risikobewertung des Hypericum-extraktes LI 160 auf der Basis einer Drug-Monitoring-Studie mit 3250 patienten. Nervenheilkunde 1993;12:308-313.
  127. Schakau D, Hiller K, Schultz-Zehden W, and et al. Risk/benefit profile of St.John's wort extract: STEI 300 in 2404 patients with various degrees of psychiatric disturbance. Psychopharmakotherapie 1996;3:116-122.
  128. Laird RD and Webb M. Psychotic episode during use of St John's wort. J Herbal Pharmacother 2001;1(2):81-87. DOI
  129. Schrader E, Meier B, and Brattstrom A. Hypericum treatment of mild-moderate depression in a placebo-controlled study. A prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicentre study. Human Psychopharm 1998;13:163-169. DOI
  130. Dolton MJ, Mikus G, Weiss J, et al. Understanding variability with voriconazole using a population pharmacokinetic approach: implications for optimal dosing. J Antimicrob Chemother 2014;69(6):1633-41. PubMed
  131. Goey AK, Meijerman I, Rosing H, et al. The effect of St John's wort on the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel. Clin Pharmacokinet 2014;53(1):103-10. PubMed
  132. Lei HP, Yu XY, Xie HT, et al. Effect of St. John's wort supplementation on the pharmacokinetics of bupropion in healthy male Chinese volunteers. Xenobiotica 2010;40(4):275-81. PubMed
  133. Gurok MG, Mermi O, Kilic F, et al. Psychotic episode induced by St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum): a case report. J Mood Dis 2014;4(1):38-40. DOI
  134. Yildirim O, Canan F. A case of panic attack induced by St John's wort. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2013;15(1). pii: PCC.12l01453. PubMed
  135. Abdali K, Khajehei M, Tabatabaee HR. Effect of St John's wort on severity, frequency, and duration of hot flashes in premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Menopause 2010;17(2):326-31. PubMed
  136. Trana C, Toth G, Wijns W, Barbato E. St. John's Wort in patients non-responders to clopidogrel undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a single-center randomized open-label trial (St. John's Trial). J Cardiovasc Transl Res 2013;6(3):411-4. PubMed
  137. Agollo MC, Miszputen SJ, Diament J. Hypericum perforatum-induced hepatotoxicity with possible association with copaiba (copaifera langsdorffii desf): a case report. Einstein (Sao Paulo) 2014;12(3):355-7.
  138. Hohmann N, Maus A, CarlsA, Haefeli WE, Mikus G. St. John's wort treatment in women bears risks beyond pharmacokinetic drug interactions. Arch Toxico. 2016;90(4):1013-15. doi:10.1007/s00204-015-1532-7. PubMed
  139. Jackson A, D'Avolio A, Moyle G, et al. Pharmacokinetics of the co-administration of boceprevir and St. John's wort to male and female healthy volunteers. J Antimicrob Chemother 2014;69:1911-1915. PubMed
  140. Jones D. Tourian LT, Margolese H. Possible association of syndrome of Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone with St. John's wort use. J of Clin Psychopharmacol 2014:34(6):759-60. PubMed
  141. Soleymani S, Bahramsoltani R, Rahimi R, Abdollahi M. Clinical risks of St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) co-administration. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2017;13(10):1047-62.
  142. Chrubasik-Hausmann S, Vlachojannis J, McLachlan AJ. Understanding drug interactions with St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.): impact of hyperforin content. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2018.
  143. Market C, Kastner IM, Hellwig, et al. The effect of induction of CYP3A4 by St. John's wort on ambrisentan plasma kinetics in volunteers of known CY2C19 genotype. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology 2015;116:423-428.
  144. Loughren MJ, Kharasch ED, Kelton-Rehkopf MC, Syrjala KL, Shen DD. Influence of St. John's wort on intravenous fentanyl pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical effects: a randomized clinical trial. Anesthesiology 2020;132(3):491-503. PubMed
  145. Scholz I, Liakoni E, Hammann F, et al. Effects of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rivaroxaban in humans. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2020. doi: 10.1111/bcp.14553.
  146. Fisher KA, Patel P, Abualula S, Concepion L. St. John's Wort-Induced Supraventricular Tachycardia. Cureus. 2021 Apr 7;13(4):e14356. PubMed
  147. Schäfer W, Wentzell N, Schink T, Haug U. Characterization of pregnancies exposed to St. John's wort and their outcomes: A claims data analysis. Reprod Toxicol. 2021 Jun;102:90-97. PubMed
  148. Adibelli Z, Karacay I, Demir M, Duran C. St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)-related acute kidney injury. Blood Purif. 2021 Aug 24:1-3. doi: 10.1159/000518349.
  149. Sarris J, Ravindran A, Yatham LN, et al. Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety T
  150. Haron MH, Dale O, Martin K, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Commonly Used Botanicals on the US Market with Regard to PXR- and AhR-Mediated Influences on CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. J Diet Suppl 2022. PubMed
  151. Pochet S, Lechon AS, Lescrainier C, et al. Herb-anticancer drug interactions in real life based on VigiBase, the WHO global database. Sci Rep 2022;12(1):14178. PubMed
  152. Gümüs KS, Teegelbekkers A, Sauter M, et al. Effect of Tacrolimus Formulation (Prolonged-Release vs Immediate-Release) on Its Susceptibility to Drug-Drug Interactions with St. John's Wort. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2024. PubMed

See these in context on the St. John's Wort 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

Keep exploring
Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Drug–drug interactions › Check two or more of your medications against each other Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements NDC & pricing lookup › Find a drug’s NDCs, packaging and costs Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team