FORSYTHIA: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Forsythia is a shrub. The dried fruit is used for medicine.

Forsythia is used for airway illnesses, swelling, fever, and other conditions. But there is no good scientific research to support any use.

How does it work ?

Forsythia might decrease inflammation. However, more information is needed to determine how forsythia might work.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

Fever.
Gonorrhea.
Heart disease.
HIV/AIDS.
Nausea and vomiting.
Pain and swelling (inflammation).
Sore throat (pharyngitis).
Swelling (inflammation) of small airways in the lung (bronchiolitis).
Swelling (inflammation) of the tonsils (tonsillitis).
To increase menstrual flow.
Infection of the skin (erysipelas).
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of forsythia for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information available to know if forsythia is safe or what the side effects might be.

When given by IV: There isn't enough reliable information available to know if forsythia is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if forsythia is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Surgery: Because forsythia might slow blood clotting, there is a concern that it might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking forsythia at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions ?

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with FORSYTHIA
Forsythia might slow blood clotting. Taking forsythia along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Minor Interaction

Be watchful with this combination

Azithromycin (Zithromax) interacts with FORSYTHIA
Taking forsythia along with azithromycin might increase the levels of forsythia and azithromycin in the body. This might increase the effects and side effects of both forsythia and azithromycin.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of forsythia depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for forsythia. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

Chen X, Beutler JA, McCloud TG, et al. Tannic acid is an inhibitor of CXCL12 (SDF-1alpha)/CXCR4 with antiangiogenic activity. Clin Cancer Res 2003;9:3115-23. View abstract.

Choi IY, Moon PD, Koo HN, et al. Observations of Forsythia koreana methanol extract on mast cell-mediated allergic reactions in experimental models. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim. 2007;43(7):215-21. View abstract.

Iwakami S, Wu JB, Ebizuka Y, Sankawa U. Platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonists contained in medicinal plants: lignans and sesquiterpenes. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1992;40:1196-8. View abstract.

Jeong YH, Hwang YH, Kim TI, Oh YC, Ma JY. Forsythia Fruit Prevents Fulminant Hepatitis in Mice and Ameliorates Inflammation in Murine Macrophages. Nutrients 2021;13(8):2901. View abstract.

Kim MS, Na HJ, Han SW, et al. Forsythia fructus inhibits the mast-cell-mediated allergic inflammatory reactions. Inflammation 2003;27:129-35. View abstract.

Kong XT, Fang HT, Jiang GQ, et al. Treatment of acute bronchiolitis with Chinese herbs. Arch Dis Child 1993;68:468-71. View abstract.

Li XG, Ni J, Shen S, Wang XP, Tian JC. Pharmacokinetic interaction of Forsythia suspensa extract and azithromycin injection after single and co-intravenous administration in rats. Chin J Nat Med 2020;18(3):234-240. View abstract.

Ming DS, Yu DQ, Yu SS. New Quinoid Glycosides from Forsythia suspensa. J Nat Prod 1998;61:377-9. View abstract.

Ozaki Y, Rui J, Tang Y, Satake M. Antiinflammatory effect of Forsythia suspensa Vahl and its active fraction. Biol Pharm Bull 1997;20:861-4. View abstract.

Ozaki Y, Rui J, Tang YT. Antiinflammatory effect of Forsythia suspensa V(AHL) and its active principle. Biol Pharm Bull 2000;23:365-7. View abstract.

Prieto JM, Recio MC, Giner RM, et al. Influence of traditional Chinese anti-inflammatory medicinal plants on leukocyte and platelet functions. J Pharm Pharmacol 2003;55:1275-82. View abstract.

Rouf AS, Ozaki Y, Rashid MA, Rui J. Dammarane derivatives from the dried fruits of Forsythia suspensa. Phytochemistry 2001;56:815-8. View abstract.

Shao SY, Feng ZM, Yang YN, Jiang JS, Zhang PC. Eight new phenylethanoid glycoside derivatives possessing potential hepatoprotective activities from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa. Fitoterapia. 2017;122:132-137. View abstract.

Shao SY, Yang YN, Feng ZM, Jiang JS, Zhang PC. New iridoid glycosides from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa and their hepatoprotective activities. Bioorg Chem. 2017;75:303-309. View abstract.

Shin HS, Park SY, Song HG, Hwang E, Lee DG, Yi TH. The androgenic alopecia protective effects of forsythiaside-A and the molecular regulation in a mouse model. Phytother Res. 2015;29(6):870-6. View abstract.

Shin S, Yi JM, Kim NS, Chan-Sung Park, Kim SH, Ok-Sun Bang. Aqueous extract of Forsythia viridissima fruits: acute oral toxicity and genotoxicity studies. J Ethnopharmacol 2020;249:112381. View abstract.

Sung YY, Yoon T, Jang S, Kim HK. Forsythia suspensa suppresses house dust mite extract-induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. PLoS One. 2016;11(12):e0167687. View abstract.

Tohda C, Kakihara Y, Komatsu K, Kuraishi Y. Inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of herbal medicines on substance P-induced itch-scratch response. Biol Pharm Bull 2000;23:599-601. View abstract.

Yi JM, Shin S, Kim NS, Bang OS. Neuroprotective effects of an aqueous extract of Forsythia viridissima and its major constituents on oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy. Molecules 2019;24(6). pii: E1177. View abstract.

Zhang GG, Song SJ, Ren J, Xu SX. A new compound from Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl with antiviral effect on RSV. J Herb Pharmcother 2003;2:35-40. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.

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FORSYTHIA - Uses, Side Effects, and More