a
Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
b Primary Healthcare of Gorenjska, ZD Kranj, Gosposvetska ulica 10, Kranj, Slovenia
c Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška cesta 32, Ljubljana, Slovenia
b Primary Healthcare of Gorenjska, ZD Kranj, Gosposvetska ulica 10, Kranj, Slovenia
c Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška cesta 32, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
A tremendous surge of
public interest in natural therapies has been reported in the past
several decades in both developing and developed countries. Furthermore,
edible wild-growing plants whose use had long been associated with
poverty and famine have also gained in popularity among people in
developed countries. An important fraction of herbal
products evade all control measures and are generally perceived as
safe. However, this may not always be true. It is important to recognize
that some plants are not associated with acute toxicity but rather
produce more insidious problems, which develop only with long-term
exposure. In this review, we continue a systematic analysis of the
subacute and chronic toxicity associated with the use of herbal
preparations. The hepato-, neuro-, nephro- and immunotoxicity of plant
species that either grow natively or are cultivated in Europe are
discussed in some detail. The basic concepts regarding the molecular
mechanisms implicated in their nonacute toxicity and their
pathophysiological, clinical and epidemiological characteristics are
included. Among others, we discuss the hepatotoxicity of pyrrolizidine
alkaloids, the nephrotoxicity of aristolochic acid, the lathyrism
associated with neurotoxin swainsonine, thiamine depletion and thyroid
dysfunction of herbal cause, and finally address also the immunosuppressive effects of cannabinoids. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
Author keywords
European plants; Hepatotoxic; Immunosuppressive; Nephrotoxic; Neurotoxic; Thiamine depletion
ISSN: 02786915
CODEN: FCTODSource Type: Journal
Original language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2016.03.014Document Type: Review
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
