Vanilla

Vanilla/Drug Interactions:

  • AntibioticsAntibiotics: In vitro, vanillin was effective against Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Listeria innocua (23). Vanillin inhibited the growth of bacteria associated with food spoilage, including Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Pantoea agglomerans, Aeromonas enteropelogenes, Micrococcus lylae, and Sphingobacterium spiritovorun (27; 28; 29; 30). One study concluded that vanilla cream did not exhibit inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus (162).
  • AnticoagulantsAnticoagulants: So-called vanilla extracts made from plants from Mexico were found to contain adulteration with coumarin, a precursor for anticoagulant medications including warfarin, which may potentially interact with anticoagulants (118).
  • Antifungal agentsAntifungal agents: Vanillin was dramatically toxic towards Kluyveromyces marxianus; this effect was synergistic with that of catechol (31). Vanillin inhibited the growth of fungi associated with food spoilage, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida parapsilosis, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii (32; 33). In contrast, vanilla showed no inhibitory effect towards fungi associated with bread spoilage (Penicillium commune, Penicillium roqueforti, Aspergillus flavus, and Endomyces fibuliger) (163).
  • Antineoplastic agentsAntineoplastic agents: In cancer cells, vanillin has been shown to suppress cancer cell invasion, migration, and metastasis (51; 52). Vanillin induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human cancer cell lines (53; 54; 55; 56). In vitro, vanillin acted as an antimutagen, anticlastogen, and anticarcinogen by inhibiting mutagenesis induced by chemical and physical mutagens (34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 39; 40; 41).
  • Antisickling agentsAntisickling agents: The antisickling action on polymerization of vanillin was demonstrated in a double-blind, placebo controlled trial (148).
  • Carbonic anhydrase inhibitorsCarbonic anhydrase inhibitors: In vitro, vanillin inhibited carbonic anhydrase (60).
  • CisplatinCisplatin: In cultured human cells, subtoxic concentrations of vanillin significantly potentiated the cytotoxicity of cisplatin (38).
  • ContraceptivesContraceptives: Sulphation of the xenobiotic steroid 17 alpha-ethinyloestradiol was inhibited by vanillin (117).
  • Cytochrome P450: substrates, inhibitors, inducersCytochrome P450: substrates, inhibitors, inducers: Vanillin and vanillic acid were reported to be unlikely to cause drug-drug interactions at the level of CYPs (2).
  • RadiotherapyRadiotherapy: In vitro, a vanillin derivative VND3207 (4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde) exhibited radioprotective effects (83). In irradiated mice, vanillin enhanced survival in splenic lymphocytes against gamma-radiation (41).
  • RaloxifeneRaloxifene: Raloxifene inhibited human liver aldehyde oxidase-catalyzed oxidation of vanillin (164).

    • Vanilla/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • AntibacterialsAntibacterials: In vitro, vanillin was effective against Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Listeria innocua (23). Vanillin inhibited the growth of bacteria associated with food spoilage, including Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Pantoea agglomerans, Aeromonas enteropelogenes, Micrococcus lylae, and Sphingobacterium spiritovorun (27; 28; 29; 30). One study concluded that vanilla cream did not exhibit inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus (162).
  • AnticoagulantsAnticoagulants: So-called vanilla extracts made from plants from Mexico were found to contain adulteration with coumarin, a precursor for anticoagulant medications including warfarin, which may potentially interact with anticoagulants (118).
  • AntifungalsAntifungals: Vanillin was dramatically toxic towards Kluyveromyces marxianus; this effect was synergistic with that of catechol (31). Vanillin inhibited the growth of fungi associated with food spoilage, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida parapsilosis, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii (32; 33). In contrast, vanilla showed no inhibitory effect towards fungi associated with bread spoilage (Penicillium commune, Penicillium roqueforti, Aspergillus flavus, and Endomyces fibuliger) (163).
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In cancer cells, vanillin has been shown to suppress cancer cell invasion, migration, and metastasis (51; 52). Vanillin induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human cancer cell lines (53; 54; 55; 56). In vitro, vanillin acted as an antimutagen, anticlastogen, and anticarcinogen by inhibiting mutagenesis induced by chemical and physical mutagens (34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 39; 40; 41).
  • AntioxidantsAntioxidants: In vitro, vanillin exhibited only mild antioxidant and radical-scavenging activity (43; 44). In vitro, vanilla extract showed a higher antioxidant activity than that of pure vanillin (45).
  • Antisickling herbs and supplementsAntisickling herbs and supplements: The antisickling action on polymerization of vanillin was demonstrated in a double-blind, placebo controlled trial (148).
  • AromatherapyAromatherapy: Humans perceived the vanillin odor to be pleasant, evoking emotions of happiness and surprise and associated the odor with a sweet taste (46; 47). Females gave a vanillin scent higher pleasantness ratings than males did (48). In clinical trials, a vanillin scent was effective in significantly reducing crying and grimacing during a heel stick in full-term newborns that had been familiarized with the scent, and distress after the procedure was diminished (50; 49).
  • Cytochrome P450: substrates, inhibitors, inducersCytochrome P450: substrates, inhibitors, inducers: Vanillin and vanillic acid were reported to be unlikely to cause drug-drug interactions at the level of CYPs (2).
  • Eucalyptus oilEucalyptus oil: Eucalyptus oil (15%) in mosquito repellant exhibited effects on humans against Aedes albopictus for least three hours; the protection time was prolonged to five hours after adding 5% vanillin (80).
  • GinsengGinseng: Herbal tea containing both ginseng and vanilla caused five times more severe tooth surface loss than conventional tea (111).

    • Vanilla/Food Interactions:

  • AspartameAspartame: Humans reported enhancement of sweetness ratings for aspartame when the taste stimulus was presented with a vanilla odor (165). The addition of vanilla did not enhance the degradation of aspartame in dairy beverages (166).
  • Whey proteinWhey protein: According to a trained taste panel, vanillin flavor intensity decreased as the concentration of whey protein concentrate increased (167).

    • Vanilla/Lab Interactions:

  • Urine analysisUrine analysis: Vanilla pudding did not cause an interference with epinephrine, norepinephrine, vanillylmandelic acid, metanephrines, homovanillic acid, or 6-hydroxyindole acetic acid in 24-hour urine analysis for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and carcinoid syndrome (168).
  • Neuroblastoma screeningNeuroblastoma screening: Six preschool children were tested for urinary metabolites of catecholamines after consuming a regular diet, a restricted diet, and a diet with high amounts of vanilla, vanillin, and phenolic acids (169). Statistically significant diurnal variation was shown in excretion of all three metabolites and total free catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine), but diet did not alter excretion of any of the three metabolites or total free catecholamine, indicating that a three-day restricted diet is not necessary before screening children for neuroblastoma and that screening tests should be performed on a 24-hour urine sample.