C-mune® Capsules — Dietary Supplement — Immune & Liver Support
1- Disclaimer
This information is provided for general educational and reference purposes and is not a substitute for the product's current official labeling, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dietary supplements may contain biologically active ingredients and can interact with medicines or underlying medical conditions. Consult a physician or pharmacist when appropriate, particularly if you have a chronic illness or take regular medications.
We do not guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of information regarding medications or medical products, and official sources should be verified before making any decisions. Readers are responsible for independently verifying the information before relying on it.
C-mune® is a dietary supplement, not a substitute for a balanced diet or prescribed medical treatment. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
2- Summary
C-mune® is a multi-ingredient dietary supplement containing milk thistle, glutathione, Reishi mushroom, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), Astragalus, zinc, selenium, Echinacea, and vitamin K. It is marketed primarily for nutritional support of normal immune function and liver health.
Several ingredients have antioxidant, nutritional, or immunomodulatory properties, but the clinical evidence for many proposed benefits of the herbal ingredients is limited or inconsistent. In particular, current evidence does not establish C-mune® as a treatment for liver disease, hepatitis, immune disorders, or infections. Milk thistle trials in liver disease have produced conflicting or insufficient evidence, and adequately controlled human trials have not established many of the health claims traditionally associated with Reishi or Astragalus.
3- Brand Name
C-mune®
4- Category
Dietary supplement / nutritional supplement
The product is marketed in Egypt as an immune- and liver-support supplement. Publicly available Egyptian product listings identify it as a dietary supplement containing the ingredients listed below.
5- Active Ingredient
C-mune® contains a combination of:
- Milk thistle
- Glutathione
- Reishi mushroom
- N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
- Astragalus
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Echinacea
- Vitamin K
The precise species, extract ratios, and standardization of several botanical ingredients are not specified in the publicly accessible product information; therefore, results obtained with specific standardized extracts in clinical studies cannot automatically be extrapolated to this formulation.
6- Pharmaceutical Form & Strength
Hard gelatin capsules
Each capsule is listed as containing:
- Milk thistle: 140 mg
- Glutathione: 50 mg
- Reishi mushroom: 75 mg
- N-acetylcysteine: 50 mg
- Astragalus: 50 mg
- Zinc: 15 mg
- Selenium: 0.03 mg (30 mcg)
- Echinacea: 100 mg
- Vitamin K: 0.04 mcg
These quantities correspond to publicly available Egyptian product information. The exact botanical extract standardization and the chemical form of vitamin K are not clearly specified in the accessible product information.
7- Manufacturer & Marketing Authorization Holder
Manufacturer: Hochster Pharmaceutical Industries, Egypt.
Current Egyptian listings and recent published literature identify C-mune® as a product manufactured by Hochster Pharmaceutical Industries.
Marketing Authorization Holder: A separate current marketing authorization holder for this specific dietary supplement could not be reliably confirmed from an accessible official public regulatory record. The current package and official regulatory documentation should therefore be consulted when this information is required.
8- Mechanism of Action
C-mune® does not have a single pharmacological mechanism because it combines several nutrients and botanical products.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) provides cysteine, a precursor required for endogenous glutathione synthesis, and thereby contributes to cellular antioxidant defenses. Oral NAC undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism.
Glutathione is an endogenous intracellular antioxidant involved in redox regulation and cellular defense against oxidative stress. The systemic effects of oral glutathione depend on formulation and dose.
Zinc is an essential micronutrient required for numerous enzymes and for normal innate and adaptive immune function.
Selenium is incorporated into selenoproteins, including antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidases.
Vitamin K acts as a cofactor for the activation of vitamin K-dependent proteins involved particularly in blood coagulation and bone metabolism.
Milk thistle, Echinacea, Astragalus, and Reishi contain multiple phytochemicals that have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, or immunomodulatory activities in experimental studies. However, laboratory mechanisms should not be interpreted as proof of clinically meaningful efficacy in humans.
9- Spectrum of Activity
Not applicable in the conventional antimicrobial sense.
C-mune® is not an antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, or antiparasitic medication and has no established clinical antimicrobial spectrum.
Some components demonstrate antimicrobial or immune-modulating effects in laboratory studies, but these findings do not establish the product as treatment or prevention for a specific infection.
10- Pharmacokinetics
No reliable pharmacokinetic study of the complete C-mune® combination has been identified.
NAC is absorbed orally but undergoes extensive intestinal and hepatic metabolism; reported systemic bioavailability of intact oral NAC is low, generally below 10%, with peak concentrations typically occurring about 1–2 hours after administration.
Milk-thistle flavonolignans such as silybin undergo absorption followed by extensive conjugation and biliary and urinary elimination; systemic exposure varies markedly depending on the extract and formulation.
The absorption and metabolism of botanical ingredients such as Echinacea, Astragalus, and Reishi depend considerably on species, plant part, extraction method, and standardization.
Oral glutathione bioavailability varies with formulation and dose. Human studies indicate that orally administered glutathione can influence systemic glutathione exposure or status, although results vary between formulations and studies. Recent pharmacokinetic data have demonstrated measurable systemic exposure after standard oral glutathione, but the investigated doses were substantially higher than the 50 mg contained in one C-mune® capsule. The clinical significance of 50 mg of oral glutathione in this formulation has not been established.
11- Indications
C-mune® is used as a dietary supplement intended to support normal immune function and general liver health.
It should not be represented as an established treatment for hepatitis, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, immune deficiency, cancer, bacterial or viral infections, or other diseases.
Evidence for milk thistle in established liver disease remains inconsistent and insufficient for firm conclusions, while evidence supporting most therapeutic claims for Astragalus and Reishi remains limited.
12- Administration
Usual product dose:
One capsule once daily, or as directed by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional.
Swallow the capsule with water. Taking it with food may help reduce gastrointestinal discomfort in sensitive individuals.
Do not exceed the recommended dose unless specifically instructed by a healthcare professional.
If a dose is missed, take the next dose normally; do not double the dose.
13- Method of Preparation
No preparation or reconstitution is required.
C-mune® is supplied as a ready-to-use hard gelatin capsule. The capsule should normally be swallowed whole with water unless a healthcare professional provides different instructions.
14- Contraindications
Do not use in individuals with a known hypersensitivity to any component of the product.
Particular caution is appropriate in individuals allergic to plants of the Asteraceae/Compositae family, because both Echinacea and milk thistle can cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Echinacea-associated reactions can rarely be severe.
15- Warnings & Precautions
- Individuals with autoimmune diseases should avoid unsupervised use. Astragalus may theoretically worsen autoimmune activity, and Astragalus, Echinacea, and Reishi may influence immune responses. Current NCCIH guidance specifically advises people with autoimmune diseases to avoid Astragalus because it might worsen symptoms.
- Patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment, including transplant recipients, should consult their physician before use.
- Patients taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy should seek medical advice before use.
- Consider discontinuing the supplement before planned surgery, particularly when bleeding risk or anticoagulant treatment is relevant.
- According to the product precaution, continuous use should not exceed 8 weeks unless a healthcare professional recommends otherwise. This should be regarded as a product-specific precaution rather than a universally established maximum duration for all Echinacea-containing preparations; current NCCIH information describes certain Echinacea preparations as likely safe for short-term use but does not establish a universal 8-week maximum for all preparations.
- Avoid exceeding recommended doses or combining with several other zinc- or selenium-containing supplements without considering total daily intake.
- Stop use and seek medical advice if jaundice, dark urine, persistent abdominal symptoms, unusual bleeding, or signs of a serious allergic reaction occur.
- Very rare cases of clinically apparent liver injury have been reported in association with Reishi/Lingzhi products. LiverTox classifies Reishi as a possible rare cause of clinically apparent liver injury (Likelihood score D) and notes that causality in several published cases was uncertain because alternative causes were not adequately excluded.
- Keep out of reach of children.
16- Drug Interactions
Warfarin and related vitamin K antagonists:
Vitamin K intake can influence anticoagulation, and patients receiving warfarin or similar vitamin K antagonists should maintain a consistent overall vitamin K intake. However, the labeled amount of vitamin K in C-mune® is only 0.04 mcg per capsule, which is extremely small compared with usual daily vitamin K intakes; if this labeled amount is correct, its individual contribution is likely to be minimal. Nevertheless, Reishi may potentially increase bleeding risk, and patients receiving anticoagulant therapy should consult their healthcare professional before using this multi-ingredient supplement.
Antiplatelet or anticoagulant medicines:
Reishi may increase bleeding tendency and should be used cautiously with these medicines.
Immunosuppressants:
Astragalus, Echinacea, and Reishi have immunomodulatory properties and may theoretically oppose immunosuppressive treatment.
Quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics:
Zinc can reduce gastrointestinal absorption of both zinc and these antibiotics. The antibiotic should generally be taken at least 2 hours before or 4–6 hours after a zinc-containing supplement.
Penicillamine:
Zinc can reduce penicillamine absorption; the products should be separated by at least one hour.
Nitroglycerin:
NAC can potentiate the vasodilatory effects of nitroglycerin, and coadministration at pharmacologic NAC doses may increase hypotension and nitroglycerin-associated headache. The clinical relevance of this interaction with the relatively small 50 mg NAC dose in one C-mune® capsule is unknown and is likely to be substantially less than with therapeutic NAC doses.
Milk thistle and Echinacea can affect drug-metabolizing enzymes in laboratory studies, but available clinical evidence generally does not indicate potent CYP inhibition or induction at commonly used doses. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains with multi-ingredient supplements.
17- Side Effects
C-mune® is generally expected to be tolerated at the recommended dose, but adverse effects can occur.
Reported or plausible effects from its individual components include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal discomfort or pain
- Dyspepsia or gastrointestinal upset
- Headache
- Skin rash or itching
- Allergic reactions
- Occasionally insomnia with Reishi
Echinacea commonly causes gastrointestinal symptoms in some users and may cause allergic reactions, rarely including serious hypersensitivity reactions. Milk thistle may cause gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, bloating, or gas.
Very rare cases of clinically apparent liver injury have been reported in association with Reishi/Lingzhi. LiverTox considers Reishi a possible rare cause, while noting that attribution has been weak or uncertain in several published cases because other possible causes were not adequately excluded.
Long-term excessive zinc intake can cause copper deficiency and other adverse effects; therefore, total zinc intake from all supplements should be considered. The adult U.S. tolerable upper intake level for zinc is 40 mg/day.
18- Use in Special Populations
Pregnancy:
Safety of several herbal components during pregnancy is insufficiently established. Astragalus has inadequate human pregnancy safety data, with animal findings raising additional concern. Use during pregnancy should therefore be avoided unless specifically recommended by a healthcare professional.
Breastfeeding:
There is insufficient reliable information regarding the safety of several ingredients during breastfeeding. Medical advice is recommended before use.
Children:
The product should not be used in children under 5 years of age. In older children, use should be discussed with a pediatrician because the safety and appropriate dosage of the herbal combination have not been adequately established.
Autoimmune disease:
Avoid unsupervised use because several ingredients can influence immune activity.
Patients with liver disease:
C-mune® should not replace medical evaluation or established treatment for liver disease. Patients with known liver disease should discuss any herbal or dietary supplement with their physician, particularly because very rare cases of clinically apparent liver injury have been reported in association with Reishi/Lingzhi products, although causality is uncertain in several published reports.
Patients receiving anticoagulants or immunosuppressants:
Medical supervision is strongly recommended.
19- Storage Conditions
Store in a dry place at a temperature not exceeding 30°C, unless different storage conditions are stated on the currently marketed package.
Protect from excessive heat and moisture.
Keep in the original package and keep out of reach of children.
20- Additional Sections
Packaging:
Pack containing 3 strips, each containing 10 capsules, with an insert leaflet.
Nutrient amounts:
Each capsule contains 15 mg zinc and 30 mcg selenium. These amounts are below established adult upper intake levels; however, total intake from food and other supplements should also be considered. For reference, the U.S. adult tolerable upper intake level is 40 mg/day for zinc and 400 mcg/day for selenium. In 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established a lower adult upper limit of 255 mcg/day for selenium.
Botanical standardization:
The publicly available product information does not provide sufficient detail regarding extract ratios or standardized marker compounds for milk thistle, Reishi, Astragalus, or Echinacea. The clinical effects observed with one botanical extract therefore cannot necessarily be assumed for another preparation.
Vitamin K:
The publicly available formulation lists vitamin K at 0.04 mcg per capsule, but the precise chemical form is not consistently documented in accessible product sources. This labeled amount is extremely small relative to typical recommended daily vitamin K intakes (90 mcg/day for adult women and 120 mcg/day for adult men). Nevertheless, patients receiving vitamin K antagonists should maintain consistent overall vitamin K intake and should discuss dietary supplements with their healthcare provider.
Regulatory statement:
Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
21- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is C-mune® a medicine for liver disease?
No. It is a dietary supplement. Milk thistle has been studied extensively for liver disorders, but current clinical evidence remains inconsistent and is insufficient to establish it as a treatment for hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, or other liver conditions.
Q: Does C-mune® prevent colds or infections?
It should not be relied upon to prevent or treat infections. Echinacea may slightly reduce the chance of developing a common cold in some studies, but results are inconsistent and it is uncertain whether it shortens the duration of illness. These findings also cannot automatically be extrapolated to the complete C-mune® formulation.
Q: Can C-mune® be taken with warfarin?
Only after consultation with the prescribing clinician. Although the labeled vitamin K amount in C-mune® (0.04 mcg per capsule) is extremely small and is likely to make only a minimal individual contribution to total vitamin K intake if the label value is accurate, overall vitamin K intake should remain consistent during warfarin treatment. Reishi may also potentially increase bleeding risk.
Q: Can people with autoimmune disease take C-mune®?
Unsupervised use is not recommended. Astragalus in particular may worsen symptoms of autoimmune disease and may interact with immunosuppressive treatment.
Q: How long can C-mune® be taken?
The product precaution states that continuous use should not exceed 8 weeks unless a healthcare professional advises otherwise. This is a product-specific precaution and should not be interpreted as a universally established safety limit for all Echinacea preparations.
Q: Can it be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Safety information is insufficient for several herbal ingredients. Use should generally be avoided unless specifically recommended by a healthcare professional.
Q: Can children take C-mune®?
It should not be used in children younger than 5 years. Use in older children should be discussed with a pediatrician.
22- References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Milk Thistle: Usefulness and Safety. Current evidence indicates insufficient high-quality evidence for definite conclusions regarding most proposed health benefits, including liver disease.
- NCCIH. Echinacea: Usefulness and Safety. Information on common-cold evidence, gastrointestinal adverse effects, allergy risk, pregnancy considerations, short-term safety, and possible drug interactions.
- NCCIH. Astragalus: Usefulness and Safety. Information regarding limited clinical evidence, autoimmune disease, immunosuppressants, pregnancy, and safety.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Zinc — Health Professional Fact Sheet. Dietary requirements, upper intake levels, safety, and drug interactions.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Selenium — Health Professional Fact Sheet. Nutritional functions, safety, U.S. tolerable upper intake levels, and the 2023 EFSA adult upper limit of 255 mcg/day.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin K — Health Professional Fact Sheet. Physiological functions and clinically important interactions with warfarin and related anticoagulants.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Immune Function and Infectious Diseases. Review of immune-related nutrients and glutathione supplementation.
- LiverTox, National Library of Medicine/NIDDK. Lingzhi, Reishi. Updated review of efficacy limitations and extremely rare reported cases of liver injury; Reishi is classified as a possible rare cause of clinically apparent liver injury (Likelihood score D).
- LiverTox, National Library of Medicine/NIDDK. Echinacea. Safety profile and rare reports of possible liver injury.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Reishi Mushroom. Safety information and potential interactions with anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, and immunosuppressants.
- NCBI Bookshelf. N-Acetylcysteine. Pharmacology, adverse effects, and interaction with nitroglycerin.
- Richie JP Jr et al. Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione. Evidence regarding systemic effects of oral glutathione supplementation.
- Solnier J, Du M, Zhang Y, et al. A Targeted Metabolomic Assessment of Oral Glutathione Bioavailability and Safety in Humans: A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial. Antioxidants (Basel). 2026;15(3):354. Human pharmacokinetic evidence demonstrating measurable systemic glutathione exposure after oral administration and formulation-dependent differences in bioavailability.
- Clinical review of herbal drug pharmacokinetic interactions. Available clinical evidence suggests that milk thistle and Echinacea are not generally potent or moderate CYP inhibitors or inducers at commonly used doses, although weak effects and uncertainties remain.
- Current Egyptian C-mune® product information. Publicly available listings confirm the product name, dietary-supplement classification, listed formulation, dosage, manufacturer, and capsule presentation.
- Hochster Pharmaceutical Industries / contemporary published product identification. C-mune® is identified as a Hochster Pharmaceutical Industries product marketed in Egypt.