Aristolochic Acid

Aristolochic acids are a family of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic compounds commonly found in the Aristolochiaceae family of plants, including Aristolochia and Asarum, which are commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine.

Plants containing aristolochic acids are often used as herbal medicines or in other botanical products in the United States and abroad.

Aristolochic acid (AA), a mixture of aristolochic acid I (AAI) and aristolochic acid II (AAII), is present in Aristolochiaceae plants, many of which are used as herbal folk remedies.