ABSTRACT
Aristolochic acid I is the most abundant of the aristolochic acids and is found in almost all Aristolochia species. Exposure to aristolochic acid is linked to urothelial cancer, primarily because of the substitution of innocuous herbs with Aristolochia species. Aristolochic acids are hypothesized to be causative agents in Balkan endemic nephropathy and a related—possibly identical—condition known as “Chinese herbs nephropathy”. The use of products containing aristolochic acid, including botanical products marketed as traditional medicines, has been associated with nephropathy. Chronic interstitial nephropathies in Indians were mentioned to be associated with Aristolochia sp. Several commercial dietary supplements, teas and phytomedicines used as slimming regimens were analysed for their aristolochic acid I content. Aristolochic acid nephropathy has been reported in ten countries, but its true incidence is unknown and most likely underestimated. By combining an ethnobotanical and phytochemical approach, researchers provided evidence for the risk of aristolochic acid nephropathy occurring in Bangladesh.
