IARC MONOGRAPHS ON THE EVALUATION OF CARCINOGENIC ...

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1.2 Use
1.2.1 Aristolochia contorta and Aristolochia debilis
Several parts of A. debilis and A. contorta have been used for various therapeutic
purposes in Chinese traditional medicine. The dried ripe fruits of both plants are used as
a remedy for haemorrhoids, coughs and asthma. The dried stems or leaves are used for
treatment of epigastric pain, arthralgia and oedema. The dried roots from A. debilis are
used for treatment of dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, carbuncles, boils and snake
and insect bites.
1.2.2 Aristolochia manshuriensis
There are no clinical reports concerning the use of dried stems of A. manshuriensis
alone. It is usually used in complex prescriptions as an anti-inflammatory and diuretic for
acute infections of the urinary system, and as emmenagogue and galactagogue for amenorrhoea
and scanty lactation in traditional Chinese medicine.
1.2.3 Aristolochia fangchi
There are no clinical reports concerning the use of the stems of A. fangchi alone. It
is usually used in complex prescriptions as a diuretic for oedema and for antipyretic and
analgesic remedies in traditional Chinese medicine.
1.2.4 Aristolochia clematitis
Birthwort (A. clematitis) has been used to stimulate the immune system and in the
treatment of allergically caused gastrointestinal and gall-bladder colic. The plant is used
in a wide variety of ways in the folk medicine of nearly all European countries. In
homeopathy, the drug is used for gynaecological disorders and climacteric symptoms, in
addition to the treatment of wounds and ulcers. It is also used as a treatment after major
surgery and in ear–nose–throat treatments (Medical Economics Co., 1998, 2000).
1.2.5 Aristolochia indica
The roots of Indian birthwort (Aristolochia indica L.) have been used in Indian folk
medicine as an emmenagogue and an abortifacient (Che et al., 1984).
1.3 Chemical constituents
IARC MONOGRAPHS VOLUME 82
[As most of the literature is in Chinese, the Working Group had difficulty in identifying
some of the chemicals cited.]