Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Hepatol. Feb 27, 2024; 16(2): 120-122
Published online Feb 27, 2024. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i2.120
Insights into skullcap herb-induced liver injury
Jonathan Soldera
Jonathan Soldera, Post Graduate Program at Acute Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of South Wales, Cardiff CF37 1DL, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Soldera J contributed to writing and reviewing the final draft of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Jonathan Soldera, MD, PhD, Instructor, Post Graduate Program at Acute Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of South Wales, Llantwit Rd, Pontypridd, Cardiff CF37 1DL, United Kingdom. jonathansoldera@gmail.com
Received: November 26, 2023
Peer-review started: November 26, 2023
First decision: January 9, 2024
Revised: January 14, 2024
Accepted: January 29, 2024
Article in press: January 29, 2024
Published online: February 27, 2024
Processing time: 92 Days and 13.6 Hours
Abstract

This editorial addresses the growing concern of herb-induced liver injury (HILI), focusing on a unique case of Skullcap-induced HILI report. This editorial underscore the significant mortality rate linked to Skullcap-induced HILI, emphasizing the importance of vigilant monitoring and intervention. As herbal supplement usage rises, collaboration among clinicians and researchers is crucial to comprehend and address the complexities of HILI, particularly those involving Skullcap.

Keywords: Herb-induced liver injury; Drug induced liver injury; Dietary supplements; Herbal hepatotoxicity; Liver transplantation

Core Tip: This study presents a comprehensive analysis of herb-induced liver injury (HILI), focusing on a unique case report of drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis due to Skullcap supplements and a systematic review/meta-analysis of 936 HILI cases associated with 79 herbs. Notably, Skullcap-induced HILI demonstrated hepatocellular patterns and mild-to-moderate severity, emphasizing the importance of recognizing potential adverse events associated with herbal dietary supplements. The study's findings underscore the need for increased awareness and vigilance in monitoring HILI, particularly in the context of rising herbal supplement usage.