Aristolochia longa

Aristolochia longa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Piperales
Family:	Aristolochiaceae
Genus:	Aristolochia
Species:	A. longa
Binomial name
Aristolochia longa L.

Aristolochia longa or long aristolochia is a species of pipevine.

Like all plants in the Aristolochia genus, Aristolochia longa contains aristolochic acid, a carcinogenic and nephrotoxic substance.[1]

Historically, plants within the Aristolochia genus were used to treat a wide variety of ailments. The fact that their use leads to kidney failure was only discovered in 1815.[2] Various species of Aristolochia including Aristolochia longa remain in use in some forms of traditional medicine.[3] Essential oil extracted from the roots of Aristolochia longa has various antimicrobial properties.[4]

According to one study conducted in Morocco, 63 cases of kidney poisoning were reported to the Antipoison and Pharmacovigilance Center of Morocco between 2011 and 2018, 76% of which were due to the consumption of Aristolochia longa, most often as part of an attempt to treat cancer through traditional medicine.[5]

References

1. Huang et al. 2014.
2. Scarborough & Fernandes 2011, p. 3.
3. Dhouioui et al. 2016.
4. Dhouioui et al. 2016.
5. Nchinech et al. 2024.

Sources

• Dhouioui, Mouna; Boulila, Abdennacer; Chaabane, Hedia; Zina, Mongia Saïd; Casabianca, Hervé (2016). "Seasonal changes in essential oil composition of Aristolochia longa L. ssp. paucinervis Batt. (Aristolochiaceae) roots and its antimicrobial activity". Industrial Crops and Products. 83: 301–306. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.01.025.
• Huang, Tzu-Chuan; Chen, Shih-Ming; Li, Yi-Chieh; Lee, Jen-Ai (2014). "Increased renal semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activity and methylglyoxal levels in aristolochic acid-induced nephrotoxicity". Life Sciences. 114 (1): 4–11. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2014.07.034.
• Nchinech, Naoual; Khalfaoui, Hasnae; Chabat, Abderrahim; Rhalem, Naima; Bencheikh, Rachida Soulaymani; Achour, Sanae; Bousliman, Yassir; Nejjari, Rachid; Zakariya, Imane (2024). "Overview of medicinal plants-induced nephrotoxicity: A national pharmacovigilance study from Morocco". Toxicologie Analytique et Clinique. doi:10.1016/j.toxac.2024.01.002.
• Scarborough, John; Fernandes, Andrea (2011). "Ancient Medicinal Use of Aristolochia: Birthwort's Tradition and Toxicity". Pharmacy in History. 53 (1): 3–21. JSTOR 23645794. PMID 22702021.