Current methodologies in assessing toxicity of natural products

Abstract

Herbal ingredients and the combination of several species of plants, account for the different therapeutic and healing effects observed in the "complementary" or "alternative" medicine. The practice of herbal medicine is responsible for extense human knowledge that has developed over time in various cultures, worldwide. Cosmetics or nutracosmetics may cause adverse reactions in the skin, specially when there is a lack of cosmetic vigilance management. It is important to promote, in a relatively permissive regulatory environment, conscious efforts on the part of health professionals, to evaluate the outcomes and validate their pharmacological and cosmetic use. Traditional knowledge about the use of some herbs should be reevaluated and scientific basis should be considered. It is important to conduct a complete scientific research for validating herbal therapeutics and optimizing safety. Scientific toxicological research, using proper models, must continue to prove quality, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics interactions with other substances, and safety. Mechanisms of actions, as well as factors affecting toxicity should be studied, revised and taken in account to prevent adverse reactions, when using complementary or alternative medicine.