Product Name: Aristolochic acid
CAS: 313-67-7
MF: C17H11NO7
MW: 341.27
Description:
Aristolochic acid is a carcinogen found in Aristolochia and Asarum, both in the Aristolochiaceae family of plants. Aristolochic acid is composed of a ~1:1 mixture of two forms, aristolochic acid I and aristolochic acid II. In type II, the –OCH3 group is replaced with –H.
In addition to its carcinogenicity, aristolochic acid is also highly nephrotoxic and may be a causative agent in Balkan nephropathy. Aristolochic acid is linked to increase in urinary tract cancers as well. However, despite these well-documented dangers, aristolochic acid still is present sometimes in herbal remedies (such as for weight loss), primarily because of substitution of innocuous herbs with Aristolochia species.