Aristolochic acid

Aristolochic acid is a carcinogenic, aromatic compound found in hundreds of Aristolochia species of plants found worldwide. Despite links to endemic (Balkan) nephropathy (1,2), which leads to kidney failure and often death, Aristolochic acid is still used in some herbal supplements. Its use is banned in several countries.

Aristolochia species have been used for centuries in traditional medicines (3). A. clematitus (birthwort) was used to induce labor, expel the placenta and abort pregnancies. Other Aristolochia-based recipes were used to treat asthma, gout and bladder stones in Greek and Roman regions. In North America, Native Americans used A. serpentaria (Virginia Snakeroot) to treat snake bites. Presently, Aristolochia extracts are still used in weight loss supplements A. fangchi, as diuretics A. manshuriensis, for the treatment of asthma A. heterophylla and to suppress coughs A. debillis. The seeds, leaves, roots and stalks of all Aristolochic plants are poisonous.

Referencess

1. A. P. Grollman et al. "Aristolochic acid and the etiology of endemic (Balkan) nephropathy", Proc. Natl. Acac. Sci. U.S.A., 104:12129-34, 2007.

2. J. C. Mead, "Manna from Hell", The Scientist 21(11):44-51, 2007.

3. K. M. Wu, et al. "Complexities of the herbal nomenclature system in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): Lessons learned from the misuse of Aristolochia-related species and the importance of the pharmaceutrical name during botanical drug product development", Phytomedicine, 14:273-9, 2007.