Acute hepatitis associated with herb (Teucrium capitatum L.) administration.

Drug-induced hepatotoxicity due to medicinal plant administration has been infrequently reported. This case describes a 62-year-old Caucasian man with hypercholesterolaemia and hyperglycaemia, who started daily consumption of a tea containing the medicinal plant Teucrium capitatum L. Four months after initiation of this therapy he developed an acute icteric hepatitis-like illness. Other causes of acute hepatocellular necrosis were excluded. Liver histology demonstrated changes consistent with acute hepatitis with bridging necrosis. The medicinal plant was withdrawn. The patient recovered clinically and serum bilirubin and aminotransferases returned to normal levels within a 9-week time period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of acute hepatitis associated with T. capitatum administration. This case suggests that T. capitatum can induce acute icteric hepatocellular necrosis, which could be clinically confused with acute viral hepatitis, and that some medicinal plants are not as safe as they are widely considered.