Fitoterapia. 2000 Aug; 71 Suppl 1(): S58-65.

Phytotherapy and quality of herbal medicines.

Capasso R, Izzo AA, Pinto L, Bifulco T, Vitobello C, Mascolo N.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Via Ponte Don Melillo, 84084, Fisciano Salerno, Italy.

The extensive use of plants as medicines has pointed out that herbal medicines are not as safe as frequently claimed. Therefore, it can be harmful to take herbal medicines without being aware of their potential adverse effects. A comprehensive surveillance system for monitoring the adverse effects of herbal medicines is now essential. Also knowledge of the correlation existing between the marker compounds and other ingredients that occur in plants is a necessary requirement for ensuring the efficacy and quality of the herbal medicines.