Indian Aristolochia

A. indica L. Indian Aristolochia, also known as Indian birthwort, ishvara (Sanskrit), or adagam (Tamil), is a bitter climber native to India. The medicinal material consists of the rhizome, which is to resolve inflammation (India), counteract insect poison, and as an antipyretic (Philippines and Vietnam). The rhizome contains aristolochic acid, which inhibits in vitro and dose-dependent phospholipid hydrolysis by the human synovial fluid phospholipase A2, snake venom phospholipase A2, porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2, and human platelet phospholipase A2 (2). 

The roots of Aristolochia indica, commonly known as an Indian birthwort, are reputedly used in Indian folk medicine as an emmenagogue and as an abor-tifacient. Aristolochic acid and its methyl ester, sesquiterpene (12S)-7,12-secoishwaran-12-ol, isolated from this plant, possessed significant antifertility activity in mice (103-105). 

Flashimoto K, Fliguchi M, Makino B, Sakakibara I, Kubo M, Komatsu Y, Maruno M, Okada M. Quantitative analysis of aristolochic acids, toxic compounds, contained in some medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacology 1999 64 185-189. Vanherweghem JL. Aristolochia sp and chronic interstitial nephropathies in Indians. Lancet 1997 349 1399 (letter). 

C.5H24, Mr 204.36, oil, bp. 80-82 C (133 Pa), [a]o -40° CHCI3). Example of the small group of tetracyclic sesquiterpenes, first isolated from the roots of the Indian birthwort (Aristolochia indica, Aristolochia-ceae). The plant also contains ishwarol (C,sH240, Mr 220.35). 

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