Herbal products containing aristolochic acids: A call to revisit the context of safety

Herbal products are used globally for their perceived health benefits, and as a complement to alternative therapy to Western medicines. Herbal products can be beneficial, although they can also be harmful in several circumstances. Aristolochic acids (AA) are a compound that is abundant in Aristolochia plants. Previous studies have reported that AAs exert several therapeutic effects and have been commonly used to treat a variety of illnesses, such as eczema, pneumonia, stroke, hepatitis, snakebites, arthritis, gout and coronary artery diseases. AAs, thus, are widely used in traditional and local medicines and herbal products. Unfortunately, the intake of AAs has been linked to kidney failure, as well as cancers of the urinary tract. A direct association between use of AAs and…