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Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid-Induced Toxicity to the Liver

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Natural Products

Abstract

Background: Herbal-induced injury to the liver is a many-faceted phenomenon. The diverse aspects include the nature of the hepatotoxic agents, the character of the injury, the mechanism for the hepatotoxic effects, the circumstances of exposure, and the medical and social importance.

Purpose: The objectives are to encourage recognition and prevention of common morbidity encountered when using complementary and alternative medicine and 2) to review the toxic effect of herbal remedies containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs).

Design and Methods: A systematic literature search and review, and data interpretation are provided.2.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that herbal remedies containing PAs induce veno-occlusive disease of the liver (VOD). Long-term use, monitoring, and avoiding overdose of such remedies may prevent the mitochondrial injury due to the glutathione depletion, which ultimately leads to the liver cell damage. Moreover, immediate “remedy” discontinuation will prevent further liver damage. The role of liver toxicity induced by “natural” herbal remedies and elucidating the herbal-drug interaction require further research.

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Abbreviations

PA:

Pyrrolidizine alkaloids

VOD:

Veno-occlusive disease

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. In Vitro Drug Safety and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, South Tower of the MaRS Discovery Centre, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, South Tower, lab.351, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Dr. Manuela G. Neuman M.Sc., Ph.D. (Faculty of Medicine)

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  1. Dr. Manuela G. Neuman M.Sc., Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Manuela G. Neuman M.Sc., Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Department, M.L. Sukhadia University, Durga Nursery Road, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India

    Kishan Gopal Ramawat

  2. Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences, Biological-Active Plant Substances Study, University of Bordeaux, 210 Chemin de Leysotte CS 50008, Villenave d'Ornon, 33882, France

    Jean-Michel Mérillon

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Neuman, M.G. (2013). Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid-Induced Toxicity to the Liver. In: Ramawat, K., Mérillon, JM. (eds) Natural Products. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22144-6_92

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