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

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 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

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions of echinacea and policosanol with warfarin in healthy subjects'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this