African Wild Potato
OTHER NAME(S): African Potato, Bantu Tulip, Hypoxis, Hypoxis Plant, South African Star Grass, Sterretjie, Zifozonke, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Hypoxis rooperi, African Potato, Papa Silvestre Africana, Pomme de Terre Africaine
Overview
African wild potato is a plant. Although the root of the plant resembles a potato, it is not in the same family as the potato. The root of the plant is used to make medicine.
African wild potato is used for urinary tract infections (UTIs), enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), prostate cancer, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
African wild potato contains chemicals that might decrease inflammation.
African wild potato contains chemicals that might decrease inflammation.
Uses
We currently have no information for African Wild Potato overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if African wild potato is safe to use. Some chemicals found in African wild potato, including beta-sitosterol and hypoxoside, have been studied. These chemicals might cause nausea, indigestion, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if African wild potato is safe to use. Some chemicals found in African wild potato, including beta-sitosterol and hypoxoside, have been studied. These chemicals might cause nausea, indigestion, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if African wild potato is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Heart disease: African wild potato might cause irregular heartbeats in people with heart disease. This might make symptoms worse in people with heart disease.
Kidney disease: African wild potato might decrease kidney function. This might make symptoms worse in people with kidney disease.
A rare inherited fat storage disease called sitosterolemia: People with sitosterolemia tend to develop early heart disease and also tend to accumulate cholesterol deposits under the skin. The beta-sitosterol in African wild potato can make this condition worse. If you have sitosterolemia, don't use African wild potato.
Surgery: African wild potato might lower blood sugar levels. There is some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using African wild potato at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Indinavir (Crixivan) interacts with African Wild PotatoAfrican wild potato may increase levels of indinavir in the body. In theory, taking African wild potato with indinavir might increase the effects and side effects of indinavir.
- Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with African Wild PotatoSome medications are changed and broken down by the liver. African wild potato might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking African wild potato along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking African wild potato, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver. Some medications changed by the liver include lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.
- Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with African Wild PotatoAfrican wild potato might decrease blood sugar in people with diabetes. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking African wild potato along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed. Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
- Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with African Wild PotatoSome medications are changed and broken down by the liver. African wild potato might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. In theory, using African wild potato along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before using African wild potato, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver. Some medications changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), haloperidol (Haldol), ondansetron (Zofran), propranolol (Inderal), theophylline (Theo-Dur, others), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, others), and others.
- Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) substrates) interacts with African Wild PotatoSome medications are changed and broken down by the liver. African wild potato might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. In theory, using African wild potato along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before using African wild potato, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver. Some medications changed by the liver include ketamine (Ketalar), phenobarbital, orphenadrine (Norflex), secobarbital (Seconal), and dexamethasone (Decadron).
- Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) substrates) interacts with African Wild PotatoSome medications are changed and broken down by the liver. African wild potato might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking African wild potato along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking African wild potato, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver. Some medications that are changed by the liver include amiodarone (Cardarone), paclitaxel (Taxol); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren) and ibuprofen (Motrin); rosiglitazone (Avandia); and others.
- Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates) interacts with African Wild PotatoSome medications are changed and broken down by the liver. African wild potato might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. In theory, using African wild potato along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before using African wild potato, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver. Some medications changed by the liver include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), ibuprofen (Motrin), meloxicam (Mobic), and piroxicam (Feldene); celecoxib (Celebrex); amitriptyline (Elavil); warfarin (Coumadin); glipizide (Glucotrol); losartan (Cozaar); and others.
- Medications moved by pumps in cells (Organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) substrates) interacts with African Wild PotatoSome medications are moved by pumps in cells. African wild potato might change how these pumps work and increase how much medication stays in the body. In some cases this might result in an increased chance of having medication side effects. Some of these medications include acyclovir (Zovirax), adefovir (Hepsera), cephalosporins, cidofovir (Vistide), cimetidine (Tagamet), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), NSAIDs, oseltamivir (Tamiflu), pravastatin (Pravachol), probenecid, simvastatin (Zocor), and zidovudine (Retrovir).
- Medications moved by pumps in cells (Organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3) substrates) interacts with African Wild PotatoSome medications are moved by pumps in cells. African wild potato might change how these pumps work and increase how much medication stays in the body. In some cases this might result in an increased chance of having medication side effects. Some of these medications include cephalosporins, famotidine (Pepcid), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), methotrexate, NSAIDs, probenecid, and ranitidine (Zantac).
Dosing
BY MOUTH
- For benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): African wild potato, containing 60 to 130 mg of beta-sitosterol, has been taken as 2-3 doses daily.
References
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- Berges RR, Windeler J, Trampisch HJ, et al. Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Beta-sitosterol Study Group. Lancet 1995;345:1529-32.
- Klippel KF, Hiltl DM, Schipp B. A multicentric, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol (phytosterol) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Br J Urol 1997;80:427-32.
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- Berges RR, Windeler J, Trampisch HJ, et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Lancet 1995;345:1529-32.
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- Steenkamp V, Gouws MC, Gulumian M, et al. Studies on antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of herbal remedies used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. J Ethnopharmacol 2006;103:71-5.
- Smit BJ, Albrecht CF, Liebenberg RW, et al A phase I trial of hypoxoside as an oral prodrug for cancer therapy--absence of toxicity. S Afr Med J 1995;85:865-70.
- Wilt TJ, Ishani A, Rutks I, et al. Phytotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Public Health Nutr 2000;3(4A):459-472.
- Musabayane CT, Xozwa K, Ojewole JA. Effects of Hypoxis hemerocallidea (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) [Hypoxidaceae] corm (African Potato) aqueous extract on renal electrolyte and fluid handling in the rat. Ren Fail 2005;27(6):763-770.
- Kruger PB, Albrecht CF, Liebenberg RW, et al. Studies on hypoxoside and rooperol analogues from Hypoxis rooperi and Hypoxis latifolia and their biotransformation in man by using high-performance liquid chromatography with in-line sorption enrichment and diode-array detection. J Chromatogr B Biomed Appl 1994;662(1):71-78.
- Jalloh MA, Gregory PJ, Hein D, et al. Dietary supplement interactions with antiretrovirals: a systematic review. Int J STD AIDS. 2017 Jan;28(1):4-15.
- Fasinu PS, Gutmann H, Schiller H, Bouic PJ, Rosenkranz B. The potential of Hypoxis hemerocallidea for herb-drug interaction. Pharm Biol. 2013 Dec;51(12):1499-507.
- Owira PM, Ojewole JA. 'African potato' (Hypoxis hemerocallidea corm): a plant-medicine for modern and 21st century diseases of mankind? - a review. Phytother Res. 2009 Feb;23(2):147-52.
- Havenga K, Abay E, Wiesner L, Viljoen A, Steyn D, Hamman J. The in vitro and in vivo effects of Hypoxis hemerocallidea on indinavir pharmacokinetics: modulation of efflux. Planta Med. 2018;84(12-13):895-901.