(a-ris″tŏ-lō′kē-ă)

[L. aristolochia fr Gr. aristolocheia, birthwort]
A large genus of over 500 plants, from a number of which derivatives are promoted as dietary supplements, e.g., A. manshuriensis (or Manchuriensis), guanmutong (kan-mokutsu); and A. serpentaria, Virginia snakeroot. Compounds derived from Aristolochia species cause fibrosis (scarring) of the kidneys and cancers of the urinary tract.
SEE: Balkan endemic nephropathy; SEE: Chinese herb nephropathy; SEE: mu tong