Stephania tetrandra
Avoid Stephania tetrandra
Guang fang ji
Stephania tetrandra has been used extensively as a root Chinese herb. Avoid Stephania tetrandra, this contains aristolochia acid present in some Chinese herbal root mixtures. Herbal materials derived from Aristolochia species contain carcinogenic aristolochic acids. Aristolochia when combined with vasoconstrictive agents (such as Fenformin) this can cause a rapid, progressive tubulointerstitial atrophic nephritis (kidney) and urothelial cancer. Sometimes substitutions are made for the root of Stephania tetrandra for the root of the herb Magnolia. When such a substitution is made and this is coupled with a vasoconstrictive drug, an acute drop in kidney function and bladder cancer can quickly develop.
