Blessed thistle

Blessed thistle/Drug Interactions:

  • Antacids, H2-Receptor Antagonists, Proton Pump Inhibitors, SucralfateAntacids, H2-Receptor Antagonists, Proton Pump Inhibitors, Sucralfate: Traditionally, blessed thistle is believed to stimulate gastric acid secretion, and may reduce the efficacy of antacids.
  • AntibioticsAntibiotics: Blessed thistle may have antibacterial effects (8; 9; 10).
  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: Blessed thistle has been shown to possess platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist properties, which in theory may reduce PAF-stimulated platelet aggregation, increasing bleeding risk (7). Clinical effects in humans have not been assessed.
  • Antineoplastic agentsAntineoplastic agents: Cnicin and arctigenin have exhibited cytotoxic activity against some tumor cell lines including leukemia (HL-60), hepatomas, and sarcomas via inhibition of cellular DNA, RNA or protein synthesis (11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 10). Arctigenin has been noted to induce differentiation in mouse myeloid leukemia cell lines (17). Blessed thistle is included in some brands of the unproven anti-cancer herbal remedy, Essiac?.
  • Antiviral agents, antiretroviral agentsAntiviral agents, antiretroviral agents: Lignans in blessed thistle may have antiviral activity (particularly anti-HIV) and may theoretically interact with other antiviral agents (18).
  • Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents (NSAIDsNonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents (NSAIDs): In the standard rat paw model of inflammation, cnicin had mild anti-inflammatory effects (19). Lignans such as arctigenin and trachelogenin appear to exert inhibitory effects on cyclic AMP, phosphodiesterase, and histamine release in rat mast cells (7). Antagonist activities against calcium ions and platelet activation factor have also been observed (7).

    • Blessed thistle/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • AntacidsAntacids: Traditionally, blessed thistle is believed to stimulate gastric acid secretion, and may reduce the efficacy of antacids.
  • AntibacterialsAntibacterials: Blessed thistle may have antibacterial effects (8; 9; 10).
  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: Blessed thistle has been shown to possess platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist properties, which in theory may reduce PAF-stimulated platelet aggregation, increasing bleeding risk (7). Clinical effects in humans have not been assessed.
  • Anti inflammatory herbsAnti inflammatory herbs: In the standard rat paw model of inflammation, cnicin had mild anti-inflammatory effects (19). Lignans such as arctigenin and trachelogenin appear to exert inhibitory effects on cyclic AMP, phosphodiesterase, and histamine release in rat mast cells (7). Antagonist activities against calcium ions and platelet activation factor have also been observed (7).
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: Cnicin and arctigenin have exhibited cytotoxic activity against some tumor cell lines including leukemia (HL-60), hepatomas, and sarcomas via inhibition of cellular DNA, RNA or protein synthesis (11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 10). Arctigenin has been noted to induce differentiation in mouse myeloid leukemia cell lines (17). Blessed thistle is included in some brands of the unproven anti-cancer herbal remedy, Essiac?.
  • Antiviral agentsAntiviral agents: Lignans in blessed thistle may have antiviral activity (particularly anti-HIV) and may theoretically interact with other antiviral agents (18).

    • Blessed thistle/Lab Interactions:

  • Insufficient available evidence.

    • Blessed thistle/Food Interactions:

  • Coagulation panelCoagulation panel: Blessed thistle has been shown to possess platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist properties, which in theory may reduce PAF-stimulated platelet aggregation, increasing bleeding risk (7). Clinical effects in humans have not been assessed.