Herbal Drug Interferes with Rxs

Gugulipid, an OTC cholesterol-loweringdrug, has negative effects on prescriptionmedications. Researchers have found thatthis drug breaks down 60% of prescriptiondrugs, such as drugs used to fight AIDS andcancer. The research showed that guggulsterone,the active ingredient in gugulipid,turns on the cell receptor PXR, which activatesa liver enzyme that breaks down manyprescription drugs. Reporting in the Journal ofPharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics(October 2004), the researchersexplained that liver enzymes also may createcarcinogens out of chemicals in the body thatusually do not cause cancer.