aristolochia longa

Aristolochia longa is a perennial plant species in the Aristolochiaceae family, commonly known as long aristolochia or Berrostom. It is native to North Africa and parts of the Mediterranean. The rhizomes (roots) are most often used in traditional medicine, particularly in Algeria and Morocco, where they are applied for ailments such as cancer, skin infections, diabetes, arthritis, and more[5][6]. Extracts from A. longa have demonstrated various biological activities in vitro including anticancer (cytotoxic), antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects[2][5][6]. The mechanisms underlying these effects are attributed to its rich content of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols (notably flavonoids), alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, terpenoids and saponins[6]. However—like all Aristolochia species—A. longa contains aristolochic acid which is both nephrotoxic (damages kidneys) and carcinogenic; use can result in kidney failure or urinary tract cancers[3][4]. Due to these severe toxicities it has been banned or restricted by health authorities worldwide.

Other names

long aristolochiaBerrostom