The effect of Echinacea purpurea on the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel.

The effect of Echinacea purpurea on the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel.

Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 May 23;

Authors: Goey AK, Meijerman I, Rosing H, Burgers JA, Mergui-Roelvink M, Keessen M, Marchetti S, Beijnen JH, Schellens JH

Abstract

AIMS: The herbal medicine Echinacea purpurea has been shown to induce CYP3A4 both in vitro and in humans. This study explored whether Echinacea purpurea affects the pharmacokinetics of the CYP3A4 substrate docetaxel in cancer patients. METHODS: Ten evaluable cancer patients received docetaxel (135 mg, 60 min IV infusion) before intake of a commercially available Echinacea purpurea extract (20 oral drops 3 times daily) and three weeks later after a 14-day supplementation period with Echinacea purpurea. In both cycles pharmacokinetic parameters of docetaxel were determined. RESULTS: Before and after supplementation of Echinacea purpurea the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve of docetaxel was 3278 ± 1086 and 3480 ± 1285 ng/mL*h, respectively. This result was statistically not significant. Non-significant alterations were also observed for the elimination half-life (30.8 ± 19.7 to 25.6 ± 5.9 h, P = 0.56) and maximum plasma concentration of docetaxel (2224 ± 609 to 2097 ± 925 ng/mL, P = 0.30). CONCLUSIONS: The multiple treatment of Echinacea purpurea did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel in this study. The applied Echinacea purpurea product at the recommended dose may be combined safely with docetaxel in cancer patients.

PMID: 23701184 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]