Aristolochia fangchi

D., Vereerstraeten, P., and Vanherweghem, J.L. (2000) Urothelial carcinoma associated with the use of a Chinese herb (Aristolochia fangchi). New Engl J Med 342 1686-1692. 

Aristolochia fangchi, Aristolochiaceae, Ang. it is transferred to butterflies from the diet MI acute OMe kidney damage recently... 

Like Aristolochia fangchi, A. debilis contains the highly toxic aristolochic acid and was therefore the likely cause of the toxic hepatitis. 

Martinez MC, Nortier J, Vereerstraeten P, Vanherweghem JL. Progression rate of Chinese herb nephropathy impact of Aristolochia fangchi ingested dose. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2002 17(3) 408-12. 

Unfortunateiy, many herbai remedies may pose toxicity risks or be invoived in harmfui drug interactions. A drastic exampie of toxicity caused by a herbai product invoives to the Chinese medicinai piant Aristolochia fangchi, which was... 

III. Clinical presentation will depend on the toxic constituent of the herbal product, and may be acute in onset (for example, with the cardiac stimulant effects of ephedra or guarana) or delayed (as with Chinese herbal nephropathy due to Aristolochia fangchi). Allergic reactions to botanical products may manifest with skin rash, including urticaria, bronchospasm, or even anaphylaxis. 

Severe consequences following the consumption of certain herbal products have been reported. As an example a recent case study described a group of women in Brussels who developed rapid deterioration in their kidney function after taking herbal weight-loss products containing the herb Aristolochia fangchi A recent review of adverse events associated with the herb ephedra Ephedra sinica) found that 31% of analyzed cases, including deaths and permanent disability, were definitely or probably related to the use of ephedra. ... 

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