Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions of echinacea and policosanol with warfarin in healthy subjects

Mohi Iqbal Mohammed Abdul, Xuemin Jiang, Kenneth M. Williams, Richard O. Day, Basil D. Roufogalis, Winston S. Liauw, Hongmei Xu, Anita Matthias, Reginald P. Lehmann, Andrew J. McLachlan

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    40 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Aims: This study investigated the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions of echinacea and policosanol with warfarin in healthy subjects. Methods: This was an open-label, randomized, three-treatment, cross-over, clinical trial in healthy male subjects (n = 12) of known CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotype who received a single oral dose of warfarin alone or after 2 weeks of pre-treatment with each herbal medicine at recommended doses. Pharmacodynamic (INR, platelet activity) and pharmacokinetic (warfarin enantiomer concentrations) end points were evaluated. Results: The apparent clearance of (S)-warfarin (90% CI of ratio; 1.01, 1.18) was significantly higher during concomitant treatment with echinacea but this did not lead to a clinically significant change in INR (90% CI of AUC of INR; 0.91, 1.31). Policosanol did not significantly affect warfarin enantiomer pharmacokinetics or warfarin response. Neither echinacea nor policosanol had a significant effect on platelet aggregation after 2 weeks of pre-treatment with the respective herbal medicines. CONCLUSION Echinacea significantly reduced plasma concentrations of S-warfarin. However, neither echinacea nor policosanol significantly affected warfarin pharmacodynamics, platelet aggregation or baseline clotting status in healthy subjects.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)508-515
    Number of pages8
    JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
    Volume69
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

    Keywords

    • drug, herb interactions
    • echinacea (plants)
    • pharmacokinetics
    • policosanol
    • warfarin

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