birthwort

(bûrth′wûrt′, -wôrt′)

Any of various herbs or woody vines of the genus Aristolochia having showy, often malodorous, purplish-brown to yellowish flowers with unusual shapes. The European species A. clematitis was used as a folk medicine to aid childbirth.

A·ris·to·lo·chi·a fang·chi

(ă-ris'tō-lō'kē-ă fahng'kī)

An extremely toxic preparation (aristolochic acid is the active ingredient) that causes cancer and hepatic disease; appears in some Chinese traditional medicines and compounds; reported one of the most dangerous of all herbal agents.
Synonym(s): birthwort.

[G. aristolochia, easy birth, fr. aristos, best, + locheia, childbirth]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

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Aristolochia fangchi

References in periodicals archive

Dirty Dozen: 12 Supplements to Avoid Name(s) Dangers Regulatory Actions DEFINITELY HAZARDOUS: Documented organ failure or known carcinogenic properties Aristolochic acid Potent human FDA warning to (Aristolochia, carcinogen; kidney consumers and birthwort, snakeroot, failure, sometimes industry and import snakeweed, sangree requiring transplant; alert in April 2001.

Supplement regulation pushed by advocates: like pharmaceuticals

The birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae) contains more than 400 species, most of them tropical and subtropical, but only has a single species that grows in the southern taiga, asarabacca (Asarum europaeum).

2 Life in the taiga

Apart from the petaliferous monocots, including members of the Liliaceae, there are some Aristolochiaceae such as the birthwort (Aristolochia chilensis), the bindweed (Convolvulus chilensis, Convolvulaceae), the suspiro del campo (Nolana paradoxa, Nolanaceae), malvillas (Cristaria aspera, C.

2 Life in hot deserts and subdeserts

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