Some herbs used as alternative remedies contain potential carcinogens. Linking a tumor to a causative herbal remedy can be difficult.
Criteria for implicating an herb as the cause of a malignancy:
(1) chronic exposure to an herb containing a potential carcinogen, especially if in high doses
(2) diagnosis of a tumor associated with the potential carcinogen
(3) exclusion of other causes for the neoplasm
where:
• The carcinogen may be associated with a named herb, or it may be present as an adulterant or contaminant.
Potential Carcinogen
Possible Source
beta-asarone
Aconus calamus (calamus oil)
aristolochic acids
Aristolochis species
phorbol diesters
Croton tiglium
safrole
Sassafras albidum
pyrrolidizidine alkaloids
Symphtum officinale, other
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
Specialty: Pharmacology, clinical
