Organic heterotetracyclic compounds which are a group of nitro phenanthrene organic acids, naturally found in many kinds of plants, such as Aristolochia and Asarum, and widely cultivated in Asia.They are identified as a class 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer owing to their carcinogenicity and nephrotoxicity and can pose a significant hazard to food safety and human health.
| Member | Definition | Role |
|---|
| aristolochic acid c | An aristolochic acid that is phenanthrene-1-carboxylic acid substituted by a methylenedioxy group at the 3,4 positions, by an hydroxy group at position 6, and by a nitro group at position 10. | aristolochic acid C |
| aristolochic acid D | An aristolochic acid that is phenanthrene-1-carboxylic acid substituted by a methylenedioxy group at the 3,4 positions, by an hydroxy group at position 6, by a methoxy group at position 8, and by a nitro group at position 10. | aristolochic acid D |
| aristolochic acid i | An aristolochic acid that is phenanthrene-1-carboxylic acid that is substituted by a methylenedioxy group at the 3,4 positions, by a methoxy group at position 8, and by a nitro group at position 10. It is the most abundant of the aristolochic acids and is found in almost all Aristolochia (birthworts or pipevines) species. It has been tried in a number of treatments for inflammatory disorders, mainly in Chinese and folk medicine. However, there is concern over their use as aristolochic acid is both carcinogenic and nephrotoxic. | aristolochic acid A |
| aristolochic acid ii | An aristolochic acid that is phenanthrene-1-carboxylic acid substituted by a methylenedioxy group at the 3,4 positions and by a nitro group at position 10. | aristolochic acid B |