Quantitative analysis of aristolochic acids, toxic compounds, contained in some medicinal plants.

The amounts of aristolochic acid I and II in four groups of medicinal plants from the Aristolochiaceae and some related plants were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography, for Aristolochia was reported to produce interstitial nephritis caused by aristolochic acids during chronic use for the treatment of rheumatism, diuretic and analgesic. They were detected in all the plants that originated from the genus Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae) and in some of the plants from the genus Asarum (Aristolochiaceae). The present results suggest that these medicinal plants should be prohibited to use for remedy due to the harmful effects attributed to aristolochic acids.