This article presents the evaluation of the notifications of adverse events related to medicinal plants and their derivatives (herbal medicines). Such evaluations were voluntarily run by the Brazilian Pharmacovigilance System, coordinated by the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), from January 1999 to March 2009. Pharmacovigilance involves the detection of adverse reactions that occur during or after the use of drugs, drug interactions, problems of quality, improper use and inefficacy. There is scarce scientific confirmation about efficacy and safety of herbal medicines, so the notification of adverse events provides of information, and promotes rational use.
Herbs; herbal medicines; pharmacovigilance; adverse events; Anvisa
