Herb-induced liver injury (HILI) has recently attracted attention due to increasing reports of hepatotoxicity associated with use of phytotherapeutics. Here, we present data on HILI from the Berlin Case-Control Surveillance Study. The study was initiated in 2000 to investigate the serious toxicity of drugs including herbal medicines. Potential cases of liver injury were ascertained in more than...

Species of Valerianaceae are a common component of the alpine flora throughout the Northern Hemisphere as well as the Andes of South America. Sequence data from three chloroplast markers (psbA-trnH intron, trnK-matK intron, and the trnL-F region) along with the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA were used to infer relationships within Valerianaceae. Both genomes, ...

Although GABA neurotransmission has been suggested as a mechanism for Valeriana officinalis effects, CNS depression can also be evoked by inhibition of ionotropic (iGluR) and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR). In this study, we examined if aqueous valerian extract interacted with glutamatergic receptors. Freshly prepared aqueous valerian extract was incubated with rat cortical synaptic m...

Extracts of Hypericum, Passiflora and Valeriana are used for the treatment of mild depression and anxiety. We were interested whether a combination of Hypericum and Passiflora exerts comparable effects to Hypericum alone. We used two well-established models for investigating extracts for their anti-depressant activity, namely the effects on synaptic uptake of serotonin and the forced-swimming-t...

Plant remedies, despite their innocuity reputation, are implicated in adverse events. The present review focuses on 30 popular herbs which are associated with severe and sometimes fatal hepatotoxicity: Actaea racemosa, Aloe barbadensis, Atractylis gummifera, Callilepsis laureola, Camellia sinensis, Centella asiatica, Chelidonium majus, Ephedra sinica, Garcinia cambogia, Hypericum perforatum, La...