The effect of Echinacea purpurea on the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel. (20th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goey, Andrew K. L.; Meijerman, Irma; Rosing, Hilde; Burgers, Jacobus A.; Mergui‐Roelvink, Marja; Keessen, Marianne; Marchetti, Serena; Beijnen, Jos H.; Schellens, Jan H. M.
• Is Part Of: British journal of clinical pharmacology. Volume 76:Number 3(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: 467
• Page End: 474
• Publication Date: 2013-08-20
• Subjects: Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Periodicals; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12159
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-5251

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="bcp12159-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aims</title> <p>The herbal medicine <italic>Echinacea purpurea (E. purpurea)</italic> has been shown to induce cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) both <italic>in vitro</italic> and in humans. This study explored whether <italic>E. purpurea</italic> affects the pharmacokinetics of the CYP3A4 substrate docetaxel in cancer patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="bcp12159-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Ten evaluable cancer patients received docetaxel (135 mg, 60 min IV infusion) before intake of a commercially available <italic>E. purpurea</italic> extract (20 oral drops three times daily) and 3 weeks later after a 14 day supplementation period with <italic>E. purpurea</italic>. In both cycles, pharmacokinetic parameters of docetaxel were determined.</p> </sec> <sec id="bcp12159-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Before and after supplementation with <italic>E. purpurea</italic>, the mean area under the plasma concentration–time curve of docetaxel was 3278 ± 1086 and 3480 ± 1285 ng ml<sup>−1</sup> h, respectively. This result was statistically not significant. Nonsignificant alterations were also observed for the elimination half‐life (from 30.8 ± 19.7 to 25.6 ± 5.9 h, <italic>P</italic> = 0.56) and maximum plasma concentration of docetaxel (from 2224 ± 609 to 2097 ± 925 ng ml<sup>−1</sup>, <italic>P</italic> = 0.30).</p> </sec> <sec id="bcp12159-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The multiple treatment of <italic>E. purpurea</italic> did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel in this study. The applied <italic>E. purpurea</italic> product at the recommended dose may be combined safely with docetaxel in cancer patients.</p> </sec> </abstract>