Fulminant hepatitis during self-medication with hydroalcoholic extract of green tea.

Abstract

Despite an ancient reputation for potential phytotherapeutic effects and innocuity, traditional herbal medicine has previously been implicated in severe adverse events. Exolise is an 80% ethanolic dry extract of green tea (Camellia sinensis) standardized at 25% catechins expressed as epigallocatechin gallate, containing 5-10% caffeine. It has been available in France, Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom since 1999, as an adjuvant therapy for use in weight loss programmes. In various studies, green tea has to date been considered useful for its potential hepatic protective properties. In this study, we report a case of fulminant hepatitis during self-medication with Exolise, requiring liver transplantation.

• Authors: Romain Gloro, Isabelle Hourmand-Ollivier, Brigitte Mosquet, Laurent Mosquet, Pierre Rousselot, Ephrem Salamé, Marie-Astrid Piquet, Thông Dao
• Journal: European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology (Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol) Vol. 17 Issue 10 Pg. 1135-7 (Oct 2005) ISSN: 0954-691X [Print] England
• PMID: 16148563 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Plant Extracts
• green tea extract AR25

Topics

• Camellia sinensis (adverse effects)
• Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury (etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Liver Failure, Acute (chemically induced)
• Liver Transplantation
• Middle Aged
• Phytotherapy (adverse effects)
• Plant Extracts (adverse effects)
• Self Medication