Potential pharmacokinetic interactions with concurrent use of herbal medicines and a ritonavir-boosted COVID-19 protease inhibitor in low and middle-income countries

In response to the increase use of novel anti-viral drugs for COVID, experts from our Botanical Safety Consortium have put out a review article that presents data on regionally-relevant herbal medicine use that have the potential for herbal medicine interaction (HDI). This work highlights potential areas for future experimental studies and data collection, identifies herbal medicines for inclusion in future listings of regionally diverse potential HDIs, and underscores areas for low- and middle-income countries (LMIC)-focused provider-patient communication. This overview is presented to support governments and health protection entities as they prepare for an increase of availability and use of PaxlovidTM.

Potential pharmacokinetic interactions with concurrent use of herbal medicines and a ritonavir-boosted COVID-19 protease inhibitor in low and middle-income countries. Dallas J. Smith, Huichang Bi, Josias Hamman, Xiaochao Ma, Constance Mitchell, Kumbukani Nyirenda, Tsitsi Monera-Penduka, Hellen Oketch-Rabah, Mary F. Paine, Syril Pettit, Wihan Pheiffer, Richard B. Van Breemen and  Michelle Embry. Frontiers in Pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1210579