Joy Lee

The China Post/Asia News Network

Friday, Aug 09, 2013

TAIPEI - Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital yesterday published research showing that aristolochic acid is a carcinogen that can cause gene mutation.

Science Translational Medicine, an interdisciplinary medical journal established in October 2009 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, published the research as the cover story of its most recent issue.

Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital worked with National Cancer Centre Singapore to discover all the damage aristolochic acid can have on human bodies, including causing cancer and gene mutation.

According to the research, aristolochic acid, a natural product of aristolochia plants found in herbal remedies and health supplements, is the strongest source of carcinogens thus far discovered.

The Department of Health (DOH), now named the Ministry of Health and Welfare, banned use of any herbal medicines that contain aristolochic acid in 2003 due to potential kidney damage. However, the research also found that aristolochic acid can not only cause lasting damage to kidneys but also to livers.

Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's research team said that people should not try any herbal remedies that contain aristolochic acid and if they start to develop symptoms like feeling pain or bumps around waist area, they should go to a doctor immediately for professional consultation.

In April 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer health alert against consuming botanical products that were sold as traditional medicines or as ingredients in dietary supplements that contained aristolochic acid.

Read the rest here:
Herbal medicine ingredient linked to cancer

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