Hepatopatias: fitoterápicos e interferentes laboratoriais

Abstract

Currently the use of herbal medicine has increased among patients and health professionals. The pharmaceutical industry, targeting this niche market, has invested in research and development of herbal medicines for various body systems. Due to the prevalence of liver disease, herbal medicines and medicinal plants are often used in their treatment as adjunctive or primary therapy, usually without due attention to possible drug interactions and interference with laboratory tests. The objective of this study is to collect data on hepatoprotective herbal medicines available at pharmacies in Goiânia registered with the Ministry of Health and identify possible interferences in laboratory tests. A survey of hepatoprotective phytotherapics, available in major pharmaceutical chains of the city of Goiânia-GO in 2019, was conducted through a structured questionnaire. The data comprised technical, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and commercial information. A literature search of laboratory interactions with the active principles and / or plants was made. Fourteen registered hepatoprotective phytotherapics were found. The plants in their formulas were: Peumus boldus (Boldo), Cynara scolymus L. (Artichoke), Rhamnus purshiana (Sacred Cascara), Rheum palmatum (Rhubarb), Silybum marianum (Cardo Mariano), Anthemis nobilis (Chamomile) and Gentiana lutea L. (Gentian). The population should prefer the use of herbal medicines over medicinal plants because of the guarantee of plant identification, amount of active ingredient and sterility. The use of these plants and / or herbal medicines may interfere with various laboratory tests, such as coagulation tests, lipidograms and others, and their use should always be reported to the health professional.