Background

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.

Safety Safety definitions

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.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

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.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

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.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

Indinavir (Crixivan)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

African 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 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some 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)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some 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)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some 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)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some 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 changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some 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)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

African 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 moved by pumps in cells (Organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some 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)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some 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).

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Carotene: The beta-sitosterol in African wild potato may interfere with the body's ability to absorb carotene, and blood levels of carotene may drop.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: African wild potato might lower blood sugar. Using it with other herbs or supplements that also have this effect might lower blood sugar too much. Other herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar include banaba, bitter melon, cowhage, ginger, glucomannan, goat's rue, fenugreek, kudzu, willow bark, and others.
Vitamin E: The beta-sitosterol in African wild potato may interfere with the body's ability to absorb vitamin E, and blood levels of vitamin E may drop.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

African wild potato contains chemicals that might decrease inflammation.