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PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES - TOXICOLOGY - DRUG INTERACTIONS

Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle)

In traditional European herbal medicine, Flos Lonicerae Japonicae is used as a remedy for asthma
and related respiratory disorders. Flos Lonicerae Japonicae has been known as an anti-inflammatory
herb in traditional Chinese medicine and is used for upper respiratory tract infections. Luteolin, an
active constituent of Flos Lonicerae Japonicae, has a spectrum of biological activities, especially
with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been reported that luteolin has a potent
antifibrotic activity; this effect was mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of lung inflammation
and suppression of myofibroblast differentiation as well as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
(Chen et al., 2010). Other active constituents such as chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid
have demonstrated broad spectrum antibiotic actions (Chen & Chen, 2004).

Toxicity for Flos Lonicerae Japonicae has not been documented in dogs and cats when administered orally in
therapeutic doses. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals does not consider the plant
TOXICOLOGY toxic to cats, dogs or horses (Whardon, 2011). Oral LD of Flos Lonicerae Japonicae is 53 g/kg of body weight
50
in mice (Chen & Chen, 2004).

Equivalent toxic dose in 20 kg dog: 1,060 g PO of Flos Lonicerae Japonicae.
Equivalent toxic dose in 5 kg cat: 265 g PO of Flos Lonicerae Japonicae.

DRUG Validated interactions studies do not exist for Flos Lonicerae Japonicae preparations. Clinical
INTERACTIONS interactions with other drugs have not been reported. However, a case report of a human patient
receiving an anticoagulant (warfarin) was associated with the development of easy bruising,
epistaxis, bleeding gums, and elevated international normalized ratio (INR) with the ingestion of
Flos Lonicerae Japonicae preparation (Barceloux, 2008).

2 | Pulmo -VM TM