Aristolochic acid
class of chemical compounds
Aristolochic acids (English: ) are a family of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic phytochemicals commonly found in the flowering plant family Aristolochiaceae (birthworts). Aristolochic acid (AA) I is the most abundant one. The family Aristolochiaceae includes the genera Aristolochia (birthwort) and Asarum (wild ginger), which are both commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine. Despite the host plants having a long history of use in traditional medicine, modern clinical research suggests aristolochic acids cause kidney and liver cancer. The FDA has issued warnings regarding consumption of AA-containing supplements.
History
Early medical uses
Birthwort plants, and the aristolochic acids they contain, were quite common in ancient Greek and Roman medical texts, well-established as an herb there by the fifth century BC. Birthworts appeared in Ayurvedic texts by 400 AD, and in Chinese texts later in the fifth century. In these ancient times, it was used to treat kidney and urinary problems, as well as gout, snakebites, and a variety of other ailments. It was also considered to be an effective contraceptive. In many of these cases, birthworts were just some of the many ingredients used to create ointments or salves. In the early first century, in Roman texts, Aristolochia is first mentioned as a component of oral medicines that were used to treat things such as asthma, hiccups, muscle spasms and pains, and to assist in the expulsion of afterbirth.
The public source identifies “Aristolochic acid” as class of chemical compounds. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Aristolochic, acid and class.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Aristolochic acid”, the useful work is to connect “class of chemical compounds” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 29, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q424210. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Aristolochic acid”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Aristolochic acid primary sources, Aristolochic acid archive and Aristolochic research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Aristolochic acid”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Aristolochic acid” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.