Detection of aristolochic acid in Chinese phytomedicines and dietary supplements used as slimming regimens

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 29 - 36
• Main Authors: Ioset, J.-R., Raoelison, G.E., Hostettmann, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2003; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Anti-Obesity Agents - adverse effects; Anti-Obesity Agents - chemistry; Anti-Obesity Agents - isolation & purification; Aristolochia; Aristolochia - chemistry; Aristolochia fangchi; Aristolochiaceae; Aristolochic acid; Aristolochic Acids - adverse effects; Aristolochic Acids - chemistry; Aristolochic Acids - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; carcinogens; Carcinogens - adverse effects; Carcinogens - chemistry; Carcinogens - isolation & purification; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; dietary supplements; Dietary Supplements - adverse effects; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - adverse effects; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - chemistry; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; high performance liquid chromatography; Humans; Intoxication; LC/MS; LC/UV; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; nephrotoxicity; Oriental traditional medicine; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; plant extracts; poisoning; quantitative analysis; renal failure; toxicity testing; Toxicity: urogenital system; weight control; LC/MS; Aristolochia fangchi; APCI, atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation; LC/UV; Aristolochic acid; Intoxication; SPE, solid phase extraction; Aristolochiaceae; TLC, thin-layer chromatography; Kidney disease; Human; Urinary system disease; Chemical analysis; Toxicity; Medicinal plant; Chinese medicine; Folk medicine; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Renal failure; Plant origin; Slimming product; Spermatophyta; Detection; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/S0278-6915(02)00219-3

Over the last 10 years, numerous cases of intoxications, leading for the most part to end-stage renal failure, have been reported after consumption of slimming regimens made of Chinese herbal preparations. These intoxications were associated with species of the Aristolochia genus, such as Aristolochia fangchi (Aristolochiaceae), known to contain very nephrotoxic and carcinogenic metabolites named aristolochic acids. Several commercial dietary supplements, teas and phytomedicines used as slimming regimens were analysed for their aristolochic acid I content. A preliminary detection of this toxic compound was made by thin-layer chromatography. The presence of aristolochic acid I in these preparations was confirmed by a HPLC/UV-DAD/MS analysis. A quantitative determination of aristolochic acid I was also achieved in the incriminated preparations using both UV and MS detection. Out of 42 analysed preparations, four were found to contain aristolochic acid I and two were suspected to contain aristolochic acid derivatives. Immediate removal of these products from the Swiss market was called for.