Aristolochic acid
Aristolochic are phytochemicals that in a variety of species of the genera Aristolochia (whistling flowers), Asarum ( subungulates ) Saruma and Thottea, all of the family Aristolochiaceae ( Osterluzeigewächse ) belonging, were detected. Biogenic table they are derived from aporphine alkaloids, as can be seen on the structural similarity with eg the aporphine alkaloids apomorphine or bulbocapnine.
Representative
As aristolochic various derivatives of the same basic structure are referred to. The three residues (R1, R2 and R3 ) may be hydrogen, hydroxy or methoxy groups. The most important representative is aristolochic acid I.
Occurrence
The presence of aristolochic outside the family Aristolochiaceae is not documented in plants. In the roots of Osterluzei ( Aristolochia clematitis ) included up to a percentage aristolochic while the content in the sheets is less than 0.1 %.
Use
Various aristolochic were previously included in some common, originating mainly from Chinese medicine, slimming products and in fortifying tonic woman gold. The preparation Tardolyt ® contained aristolochic acid as the sodium salt and was used in infections as phagocytosis activator.
Toxicology
Aristolochic have a high toxic potential. The compounds were befundet in in vitro and in vivo tests to be genotoxic and had moreover carcinogenic in animal experiments. Moreover, they have nephrotoxic ( kidney damaging). The Balkan nephropathy is endemic occurring in some regions of the Balkans chronic toxic kidney disease that is mainly caused by aristolochic.
The biochemical mechanism of the aristolochic mutagenicity is based on a transform version of AT Nukeotidpaaren TA at different locations in the genome.
In Germany all " aristolochic acid -containing human and veterinary medicines, including phytotherapeutic and homeopathic medicines that are manufactured using aristolochic acid -containing plants" are based on a graduated plan ( 3 June 1981) as a concern. A market is thus prohibited according to § 5 AMG. The arrangement further also relates to the sale of the relevant medicinal drugs excluded itself from the stage plan process, however, homeopathic medicinal products, the preparations of plants of the genera Aristolochia and Asarum from the potency D11 - based on the finished product - included.
Others
The caterpillars of some moth species from the family of Swallowtail Butterfly ( Papilionidae ) specializing in plant species from the genera mentioned above. They are immune to the toxins contained and protect themselves in this way against potential predators.