Influence Factors on the Hepatotoxicity of Polygoni Multiflori Radix

BACKGROUND: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) with reported hepatotoxicity is identified, in which Polygoni Multiflori Radix (HSW) attracts most attention. According to the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, processing is believed to be able to reduce the toxicity of HSW, but in publications, both processed and unprocessed HSW are reported to cause liver injury. METHODS: This article reviews the case reports and experimental researches involving liver damage associated with HSW from the following aspects: clinical features, hepatic toxicity components, hepatotoxicity mechanism, and so on. RESULTS: HSW has hepatotoxicity in different degrees and even leads to death, and the reason is multioriginal. CONCLUSIONS: People should be educated to have a broad understanding on ensuring drug use safety and lower drug-induced risks when taking HSW preparations.