AIM: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the quality and outcomes of clinical trials investigating the effect of St John's wort extracts on the metabolism of drugs by CYP3A. METHODS: Prospective clinical trials assessing the effect of St John's wort (SJW) extracts on metabolism by CYP3A were identified through computer-based searches (from their inception to May 2005) of Medline, Cinahl, PsycINFO, AMED, Current Contents and Embase, hand-searches of bibliographies of relevant papers and consultation with manufacturers and researchers in the field. Two reviewers selected trials for inclusion, independently extracted data and recorded details on study design. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies met the eligibility criteria. More than two-thirds of the studies employed a before-and-after design, less than one-third of the studies used a crossover design, and only three studies were double-blind and placebo controlled. In 12 studies the SJW extract had been assayed, and 14 studies stated the specific SJW extract used. Results from 26 studies, including all of the 19 studies that used high-dose hyperforin extracts (>10 mg day(-1)), had outcomes consistent with CYP3A induction. The three studies using low-dose hyperforin extracts (<4 mg day(-1)) demonstrated no significant effect on CYP3A. CONCLUSION: There is reasonable evidence to suggest that high-dose hyperforin SJW extracts induce CYP3A. More studies are required to determine whether decreased CYP3A induction occurs after low-dose hyperforin extracts. Future studies should adopt study designs with a control phase or control group, identify the specific SJW extract employed and provide quantitative analyses of key constituents.
AIM: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the quality and outcomes of clinical trials investigating the effect of St John's wort extracts on the metabolism of drugs by CYP3A. METHODS: Prospective clinical trials assessing the effect of St John's wort (SJW) extracts on metabolism by CYP3A were identified through computer-based searches (from their inception to May 2005) of Medline, Cinahl, PsycINFO, AMED, Current Contents and Embase, hand-searches of bibliographies of relevant papers and consultation with manufacturers and researchers in the field. Two reviewers selected trials for inclusion, independently extracted data and recorded details on study design. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies met the eligibility criteria. More than two-thirds of the studies employed a before-and-after design, less than one-third of the studies used a crossover design, and only three studies were double-blind and placebo controlled. In 12 studies the SJW extract had been assayed, and 14 studies stated the specific SJW extract used. Results from 26 studies, including all of the 19 studies that used high-dose hyperforin extracts (>10 mg day(-1)), had outcomes consistent with CYP3A induction. The three studies using low-dose hyperforin extracts (<4 mg day(-1)) demonstrated no significant effect on CYP3A. CONCLUSION: There is reasonable evidence to suggest that high-dose hyperforin SJW extracts induce CYP3A. More studies are required to determine whether decreased CYP3A induction occurs after low-dose hyperforin extracts. Future studies should adopt study designs with a control phase or control group, identify the specific SJW extract employed and provide quantitative analyses of key constituents.
Authors: Thorir D Bjornsson; John T Callaghan; Heidi J Einolf; Volker Fischer; Lawrence Gan; Scott Grimm; John Kao; S Peter King; Gerald Miwa; Lan Ni; Gondi Kumar; James McLeod; R Scott Obach; Stanley Roberts; Amy Roe; Anita Shah; Fred Snikeris; John T Sullivan; Donald Tweedie; Jose M Vega; John Walsh; Steven A Wrighton Journal: Drug Metab Dispos Date: 2003-07 Impact factor: 3.922
Authors: Steffen Bauer; Elke Störmer; Reinhold Kerb; Andreas Johne; Jürgen Brockmöller; Ivar Roots Journal: Eur J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2002-11-12 Impact factor: 2.953
Authors: Andreas Johne; Jürgen Schmider; Jürgen Brockmöller; Andreas M Stadelmann; Elke Störmer; Steffen Bauer; Gudrun Scholler; Matthias Langheinrich; Ivar Roots Journal: J Clin Psychopharmacol Date: 2002-02 Impact factor: 3.153
Authors: Bill J Gurley; Stephanie F Gardner; Martha A Hubbard; D Keith Williams; W Brooks Gentry; Yanyan Cui; Catharina Y W Ang Journal: Clin Pharmacol Ther Date: 2002-09 Impact factor: 6.875
Authors: Ron H J Mathijssen; Jaap Verweij; Peter de Bruijn; Walter J Loos; Alex Sparreboom Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2002-08-21 Impact factor: 13.506