Wild indigo

Wild indigo/Drug Interactions:

  • AntibioticsAntibiotics: According to in vitro and in vivo studies, solutions containing dilute concentration of wild indigo may have bactericidal activity (30; 31). Clinical trials have shown that Esberitox? (Schaper & Br?mmer, Salzgitter, Germany), an herbal combination therapy that contains Thujae occidentalis herba (white cedar), Baptisiae tinctoriae radix (wild indigo), Echinaceae purpureae radix (purple coneflower), and Echinaceae pallidae radix (pale purple coneflower), may have antibacterial effects (30; 31; 16; 32), although the effects of wild indigo alone are not clear from these studies.
  • Anti-inflammatoriesAnti-inflammatories: The herbal combination Esberitox?, an herbal combination therapy containing Thujae occidentalis herba (white cedar), Baptisiae tinctoriae radix (wild indigo), Echinaceae purpureae radix (purple coneflower), and Echinaceae pallidae radix (pale purple coneflower), has been evaluated in clinical studies as a treatment option for inflammatory conditions (38; 37; 47); however, the effect of wild indigo alone is unclear.
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In clinical research, the combination Esberitox? N was shown to have an immunomodulating effect on natural resistance in patients with lymphoma during remission and while receiving radiotherapy (7). Results of clinical studies using Esberitox? to treat radiation-associated leukopenia indicate that Esberitox? N may reduce some of the side effects associated with chemoradiation therapy when administered to patients with cancer who have minimal hematotoxic preloading (8; 48; 28; 27). However, the effect of wild indigo alone is unclear at this time.
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: Animal research indicates that a combination of wild indigo and three other herbs may inhibit influenza A virus infection (33). Clinical trials suggest that Esberitox? may have antiviral effects (33; 34; 16; 9; 35; 36). However, the effects of wild indigo alone are unclear from these studies.
  • ImmunostimulantsImmunostimulants: According to preliminary in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as human clinical trials, wild indigo or wild indigo-containing combination products (Esberitox?) may have immunostimulating or immunomodulating effects (11; 12; 4; 13; 14; 15; 16; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 5; 25; 26; 7; 8; 27; 28; 29; 40).
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: According to preliminary in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as human clinical trials, wild indigo or wild indigo-containing combination products (Esberitox?) may have immunostimulating or immunomodulating effects (11; 12; 4; 13; 14; 15; 16; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 5; 25; 26; 7; 8; 27; 28; 29; 40)

    • Wild indigo/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • AntibacterialsAntibacterials: According to in vitro and in vivo studies, solutions containing dilute concentration of wild indigo may have bactericidal activity (30; 31). Clinical trials have shown that Esberitox? may have antibacterial effects (30; 31; 16; 32), although the effects of wild indigo alone are unclear from these studies.
  • Anti-inflammatoriesAnti-inflammatories: The herbal combination Esberitox?, an herbal combination therapy containing Thujae occidentalis herba (white cedar), Baptisiae tinctoriae radix (wild indigo), Echinaceae purpureae radix (purple coneflower), and Echinaceae pallidae radix (pale purple coneflower), has been evaluated in clinical studies as a treatment option for inflammatory conditions (38; 37; 47); however, the effect of wild indigo alone is unclear.
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In clinical research, the combination Esberitox? N was shown to have an immunomodulating effect on natural resistance in patients with lymphoma during remission and while receiving radiotherapy (7). Results of clinical studies using Esberitox? to treat radiation-associated leukopenia indicate that Esberitox? N may reduce some of the side effects associated with chemoradiation therapy when administered to patients with cancer who have minimal hematotoxic preloading (8; 48; 28; 27). However, based on these studies, the effect of wild indigo alone is unclear at this time.
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: Animal research indicates that a combination of wild indigo and three other herbs may inhibit influenza A virus infection (33). Clinical trials suggest that Esberitox? may have antiviral effects (33; 34; 16; 9; 35; 36). However, based on these studies, the effects of wild indigo alone are unclear.
  • ImmunomodulatorsImmunomodulators: According to preliminary in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as human clinical trials, wild indigo or wild indigo-containing combination products (Esberitox?) may have immunostimulating or immunomodulating effects (11; 12; 4; 13; 14; 15; 16; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 5; 25; 26; 7; 8; 27; 28; 29; 40)

    • Wild indigo/Food Interactions:

  • Insufficient available evidence.

    • Wild indigo/Lab Interactions:

  • CytokinesCytokines: According to animal research, extracts from a combination of Thujae summitates, Baptisiae tinctoriae radix, Echinaceae purpureae radix, and Echinaceae pallidae radix may increase the ex vivo production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) from spleen cells, as well as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) from peritoneal macrophages of treated immunocompromised mice (22). However, the effects of wild indigo alone are unclear. According to other animal research, wild indigo may increase the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (18).
  • ImmunoglobulinsImmunoglobulins: According to animal research, arabinogalactan protein (AGP) from the roots of Baptisia tinctoria may increase the production of immunoglobulin M (IgM) (18). However, in clinical research assessing the effect of an herbal combination that contains wild indigo, changes in immunoglobulin levels were lacking (9).
  • Serum lymphocyte levelsSerum lymphocyte levels: In animal studies using mice, Esberitox? has been shown to activate macrophages and leukocytes (49; 50; 51). Clinical research has shown that Esberitox? N may affect hematological parameters, most frequently hemoglobin and hematocrit levels and less frequently leukocyte, granulocyte, monocyte, lymphocyte, and thrombocyte levels (8), although these results have been refuted in other studies (48). Athletes given Esberitox? while still training and competing have shown an increase in lymphocyte and leukocyte cell counts (26). However, the effects on serum lymphocyte levels of wild indigo alone are unclear at this time.
  • Viral titersViral titers: Animal research indicates that a combination of wild indigo and three other herbs may inhibit influenza A virus infection (33). Clinical trials suggest that Esberitox? may have antiviral effects (33; 34; 16; 9; 35; 36). However, the effect of wild indigo alone is unclear, based on the effects of these combination therapies.