The toxicity of germander, a herb used to treat obesity, is attributed to cytochrome P450 activation of the furan ring of its major diterpenoid component (teucrin A) into a reactive metabolite capable of adducting proteins. 1,4-Enedials have been proposed to be the reactive products of metabolism,
Teucrium chamaedrys L. (Labiatae), a herb used to combat obesity, can occasionally cause hepatitis. All mutagenicity tests done were negative. After 13 weeks of administration by oral route in Sprague Dawley rats T. chamaedrys proved to be well tolerated at 0.056 g kg(-1) day(-1) (i.e. 0.4 mg kg(-1)