Aristolochic acids

Aristolochic acids are a family of acids that occur naturally in plants of the pipeflower (Aristolochia) and harewort (Asarum) genus, which grow in many areas around the world.

Caution: Aristolochic acids are considered carcinogenic substances.

How are aristolochic acids used?

Plants containing aristolochic acids are often used as herbal medicine or in other botanical products. In addition, aristolochic acids may also be present as impurities in herbal products that are used to treat a variety of symptoms and diseases such as arthritis, gout and inflammation.

How can you come into contact with aristolochic acids?

It is possible to ingest aristolochic acids consciously or unconsciously by consuming herbal products containing aristolochic acids. Health authorities in many countries warn against the consumption or ingestion of such products after an increase in nephropathy cases and other kidney diseases was observed in users of such products. However, there are still many products available that may contain aristolochic acids.

What evidence is there that aristolochic acids cause cancer?

Human studies

Human studies have shown high rates of bladder cancer or upper urinary tract cancer in people with kidney disease who had consumed botanical products containing aristolochic acid.

Animal studies

The results of human studies were confirmed by laboratory studies conducted with animals, which showed that oral ingestion of aristolochic acids caused tumors in the forestomach and urinary tract of different animal species.

Mechanistic studies

There are mechanistic studies showing that aristolochic acids are the active ingredients in these products that cause cancer in humans and animals.