Aristolochic acid is a natural chemical compound found in certain plants. It can be harmful to humans when consumed or exposed to for a long time. It has been found to cause kidney damage and cancer, so it's important to avoid it. Full definition
Sometimes known as birthwort, Aristolochia contains aristolochic acid, which can cause kidney and liver damage and bladder cancer. (scientificamerican.com)
By analyzing numerous samples from Taiwan and other countries in Asia and elsewhere, Ng et al. demonstrated the effects of aristolochic acid in hepatocellular carcinoma, a much more common tumor type. (stm.sciencemag.org)
But the genome - wide spectrum of mutations associated with aristolochic acid exposure remained largely unknown. (sciencedaily.com)