Assessing Goldenseal-drug Interactions Using a Probe Drug Cocktail Approach

Summary

Goldenseal is a botanical natural product commonly used to self-treat symptoms of the common cold and many digestive disorders. Goldenseal products typically contain the isoquinoline alkaloids berberine, hydrastine, and hydrastinine. These constituents contain a methylenedioxyphenyl ring, a 'structural alert' that can lead to irreversible inhibition of drug metabolizing enzymes, particularly the cytochromes P450 (CYPs). Clinical studies involving healthy volunteers demonstrated that, compared to baseline (absence of goldenseal), CYP2D6 and CYP3A activities were reduced by 40-60% following treatment with goldenseal. Compared to the CYPs, the effects of goldenseal products on drug transporters are understudied, particularly in human subjects. Using a 'cocktail' consisting of 'probe' drug substrates for CYP3A and various transporters, the effects of goldenseal on the pharmacokinetics of each probe drug will be examined in healthy volunteers. Results will provide useful information about the risk of co-consuming goldenseal with additional drugs that are substrates for transporters.

Timeline

Start

2018-04-05

Primary completion

2018-11-30

Completion

2019-03-31

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.