title: Herbs and hazards: risk of aristolochic acid nephropathy in Iran.
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.
authors.affiliation: Chronic Kidney Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. ardalan34@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ardalan
authors.forename: Laleh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Khodaie
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nasri
authors.forename: Abolghasem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jouyban
mesh_terms: D029065:Aristolochiaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D034341:Aristolochic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001449:Balkan Nephropathy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D034341:Aristolochic Acids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C000228:aristolochic acid I