ArticleDrug safety2016
Allergy-Like Immediate Reactions with Herbal Medicines: A Retrospective Study Using Data from VigiBase®.
Article in Drug safety, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Ivy leaf (Hedera helix) for acute upper respiratory tract infections: an updated systematic review.European journal of clinical pharmacology · 2021Pooled it
- From Traditional Remedy to Evidence-Based Phytotherapeutic Agent:Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Are Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Obtained by 'Green' Synthesis Biocompatible?Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Antimicrobial and Anti-Infective Potential of Herbal Creams in Dermatology: Efficacy, Safety, and Challenges in Skin Infection Management.Infection and drug resistance · 2025Review
- Pharmacovigilance systems for safety monitoring of herbal medicines: assessment of the national regulatory authority, manufacturers and marketing authorisation holders in Tanzania.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2025Article
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Induced by Herbal Kadha.Cureus · 2023Article
- Higher Risk for Sensitization to Commonly Consumed Herbs among Adults and Youngsters Suffering from Birch, Mugwort or Grass Pollinosis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- The Role of Diet and Supplementation of Natural Products in COVID-19 Prevention.Biological trace element research · 2022Article
- The use of complementary and alternative medicine by adults with allergies: a Czech national representative survey.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2021Article
- Adverse Events to Food Supplements Containing Red Yeast Rice: Comparative Analysis of FAERS and CAERS Reporting Systems.Drug safety · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionHerbal medicines are used worldwide and with an increasing popularity in Western countries. Although often perceived as 'naturally safe', herbals may cause severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs), with immediate allergic reactions being particularly life threatening.
objectivesThe aim of this study was to analyse immediate allergy-like ADRs to herbals documented in VigiBase®, the WHO international pharmacovigilance database.
methodsThe documentation of all suspected ADRs in association with herbal exposure reported to VigiBase® from 1969 to August 2014 was retrieved. Among all reports in which WHO-ART reaction terms were indicative of acute allergic reactions, those classified as 'suspect' with a documented causality assessment and latency time of ≤1 day were selected. For the most frequent specific herbal-ADR combinations, the information component (IC) as a measure of disproportionality based on Bayesian statistics was calculated.
resultsWe identified 757 reports out of 1039 ADRs. Products with mixed herbals (36.0 %) as well as those administered orally (63.2 %) were predominant. The most frequent reactions were urticaria and rash (49.2 %). Anaphylactic reactions accounted for 9.5 %. Disproportionally frequent reporting of mouth edema (IC = 1.81) and anaphylactic reactions (IC = 1.24) to Phleum pretense were noted.
conclusionOur findings indicate that herbal medicines for oral use carry a risk of causing immediate allergy-like ADRs. Studies using the Vigibase® database can identify specific combinations of particular herbs and adverse reactions. Healthcare professionals and patients should be aware of these risks and report any serious adverse experiences.
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