Chinese medicines MHRA warning
A warning about two potentially dangerous Chinese medicines has been issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
One is a traditional Chinese medicine referred to as Xie Gan Wan, which
is reported to have been supplied in Essex, and which contains aristolochic
acids. Aristolochia are plant species that contain toxic and carcinogenic
aristolochic acids which are associated with kidney failure and cancer.
The use of Aristolochia species in unlicensed medicines was prohibited
in July 1999 (PJ, 7 August 1999, p189).
The second product is Xiaoke pills, also supplied in Essex, and labelled
as containing the antiglycaemic glibenclamide.
Ginseng pregnancy warning Women should be cautious about using
ginseng during pregnancy, say researchers from Hong Kong. They
tested ginsenoside Rb1, one of the principal active ingredients
of ginseng, on rat embryos and found that major organs did not
develop normally. The researchers suggest that women should seek
medical advice before taking herbal supplements during pregnancy
(Human Reproduction 2003;18:2166).
|
|
