Herbs and Hazards: Risk of Aristolochic Acid Nephropathy in Iran

Authors

  • Mohammad Reza Ardalan Chronic Kidney Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Author
  • Laleh Khodaie Department of Traditional Pharmacy, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Author
  • Hamid Nasri Department of Nephrology, Division of Nephropathology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Author
  • Abolghasem Jouyban Pharmaceuticalal Analysis Laboratory, Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Author

Abstract

Herbs are usually considered as inherently harmless products. Nonetheless, various renal injuries have been reported in association with several herbs. The best-known herb-induced chronic kidney disease is aristolochic acid nephropathy. Aristolochic acid is found in Chinese slim herbs. Balkan endemic nephropathy is nowadays considered as an aristolochic acid nephropathy. Plants of Aristolochiaceae (also known as birthwort, dutchman's pipe, and somersworth) is named zaravand or chopoghak in Persian and it grows in different mountainous and rural areas of Iran. The fruit and the steam of the Aristolochiacae are named zaravand gerd (nokhod alvand) and zaravand dearaz, respectively, and have different usage in Iranian teadirional such as treatment of headache, back pain, and anxiety. Some patients with end-stage renal disease and bilateral small kidneys have a history of exposure to some herbal remedies. We need to consider the possibility of environmental toxins and even Aristolochia nephrotoxicity as a potential danger in Iran.

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Published

2015-01-20

Issue

Section

SPECIAL REPORT | Kidney Diseases

How to Cite

Herbs and Hazards: Risk of Aristolochic Acid Nephropathy in Iran. (2015). Iranian Journal of Kidney Diseases, 9(1), 14-17. https://www.ijkd.org/index.php/ijkd/article/view/1602

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