Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Aristolochia indica has been recorded in three distinct ethnobotanical traditions as a source of infusions, decoctions and poultices. In the Ayurvedic practice of southern India, the leaves are simmered in water to make a mild fever‑relief tea (Rao et al., 2015). Sri Lankan traditional healers prepare a decoction of the dried roots for rheumatic pain and inflammatory conditions (Kumar et al., 2014). Among the Khas people of central Nepal, fresh leaves are crushed into a moist poultice and applied to wounds and ulcers to promote healing (Shrestha & Adhikari, 2020). A fourth report, from Bangladesh, notes a bark infusion used to alleviate gastrointestinal upset (Rahman et al., 2019). These accounts all specify the plant part (leaf, root, bark) and the preparation method (infusion, decoction, poultice) that underlie the plant’s traditional therapeutic profile.

A simple, widely cited preparation is the leaf infusion traditionally taken for fever. Measure roughly 1 teaspoon (≈2 g) of dried Aristolochia indica leaves and place them in a ceramic cup. Pour 200 ml of just‑boiled water over the leaves, cover and steep for 10 minutes, then strain and allow the liquid to cool to a comfortable drinking temperature. The dose is limited to one cup (≈200 ml) per day; because the plant contains aristolochic acids, it should be avoided in pregnancy, lactation, and by individuals with known kidney disease (Miller et al., 2018). A 1:5 (w/v) ethanol tincture of the dried stems is also used in some South‑Indian ayurvedic pharmacies, macerating 100 g of stem material in 500 ml of 45 % ethanol for four weeks before filtering.

Phytochemical investigations consistently identify aristolochic acids I and II as the major bioactive constituents of A. indica (Kumar et al., 2014). In addition, the plant contains flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, as well as essential‑oil components like eugenol and β‑caryophyllene, and significant levels of tannins (Wang et al., 2017). These compounds provide a plausible chemical basis for the observed anti‑inflammatory, antipyretic and antimicrobial activities cited in the traditional reports.

Modern research has highlighted the nephrotoxic and carcinogenic risks of aristolochic acids, prompting many national health agencies to restrict or ban the sale of Aristolochia indica preparations. Consequently, commercial herbal products containing this species are largely unavailable in the United States, European Union and several Asian markets. Nevertheless, limited use persists in remote traditional communities under local oversight, and recent pharmacological studies continue to explore the relationship between the plant’s flavonoid content and its historic therapeutic claims (Singh et al., 2021).

General Uses Top

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Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Aristolochia indica var. magna	Benth.	Fl. Austral. 6: 209 (1873)
Aristolochia lanceolata	Wight	Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 5: t. 1858 (1852)
Aristolochia maysorensis	Fisch. ex Duch.	Prodr. 15(1): 479 (1864)
Aristolochia pandurata	Wall. ex Duch.	Prodr. 15(1): 479 (1864)
Aristolochia indica var. lanceolata	(Wight) Duch.	Prodr. 15(1): 479 1864
Aristolochia indica var. oxyphylla	Duch.	Prodr. 15(1): 479 1864

Common names Top

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Filter by language:

Language	Common/alternative name
English	indian birthwort
Bengali	ঈশের মূল
Kannada	ಈಶ್ವರ ಬಳ್ಳಿ
Malayalam	indian birthwort
Malayalam	ഉറിതൂക്കി
Malayalam	കരളകം
Malayalam	ഗരുഡക്കൊടി
Malayalam	ഈശ്വരമൂലി
Burmese	ဣဿရမူလီ
Burmese	ဣဿရမူလီ အကြီးမျိုး
Nepali	ईश्वरमुल
Tamil	மாம்பாஞ்சான்
Tamil	பெருமருந்து
Tamil	ஈஸ்வர மூலி
tcy	ಈಸ್ವರ ಬೂರು
Telugu	ఈశ్వర వేరు
Thai	กระเช้าสีดา
Vietnamese	mã đậu linh
Chinese	印度馬兜鈴
Chinese	馬兜鈴秈稻
Chinese	印度马兜铃

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Asia-tropical click to expand
- Indian Subcontinent
  - Assam
  - Bangladesh
  - East Himalaya
  - India
  - Nepal
  - Sri Lanka
- Indo-China
  - Andaman Islands
  - Myanmar
  - Vietnam

Australasia click to expand
- Australia
  - Northern Territory

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000547908
UNII	2VI492LTDL
Tropicos	50066205
INPN	705877
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:93025-1
The Plant List	kew-2651508
Open Tree Of Life	82047
NCBI Taxonomy	158548
IPNI	93025-1
iNaturalist	464599
GBIF	7313567
Freebase	/m/04ybsxq
USDA GRIN	417794
Wikipedia	Aristolochia_indica

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

Zinc Oxide-Based Nanomaterials for Microbiostatic Activities: A Review

Reda AT, Park JY, Park YT

J Funct Biomater

15-Apr-2024

PMCID:	PMC11050959
doi:	10.3390/jfb15040103
PMID:	38667560

Tissue-specific variations of piperine in ten populations of Piper longum L.: bioactivities and toxicological profile

Biswas P, Pandey DK, Shekhawat MS, Dey A, Malik T

Sci Rep

01-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC10904381
doi:	10.1038/s41598-024-52297-9
PMID:	38424458

Bovine reproductive immunoinfertility: pathogenesis and immunotherapy

Gupta VK, Mohanty TK, Bhakat M, Dewry RK, Katiyar R, Nain D, Shah N, Sethi M, Rautela R, Singh M, Deori S

Front Vet Sci

05-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10585041
doi:	10.3389/fvets.2023.1248604
PMID:	37869494

Biosynthesis of Functional Silver Nanoparticles Using Callus and Hairy Root Cultures of Aristolochia manshuriensis

Yugay YA, Sorokina MR, Grigorchuk VP, Rusapetova TV, Silant’ev VE, Egorova AE, Adedibu PA, Kudinova OD, Vasyutkina EA, Ivanov VV, Karabtsov AA, Mashtalyar DV, Degtyarenko AI, Grishchenko OV, Kumeiko VV, Bulgakov VP, Shkryl YN

J Funct Biomater

01-Sep-2023

PMCID:	PMC10532211
doi:	10.3390/jfb14090451
PMID:	37754865

Investigating the efficacy of topical application of Ipomoea carnea herbal cream in preventing skin damage induced by UVB radiation in a rat model

Sundar M, Lingakumar K

Heliyon

23-Aug-2023

PMCID:	PMC10472012
doi:	10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19161
PMID:	37662739

A lexical review on Vishaghna Dravyas of Kaideva Nighantu

Yadav S, Sharma A, Vishnoi R, Rani J

Ayu

02-Aug-2023

PMCID:	PMC10468017
doi:	10.4103/ayu.ayu_199_22
PMID:	37655171

Traditional complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) for diabetic foot ulcer management: A systematic review

Kumar S, Bharali A, Sarma H, Kushari S, Gam S, Hazarika I, Prasad SK, Laloo D

J Ayurveda Integr Med

11-Jul-2023

PMCID:	PMC10435959
doi:	10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100745
PMID:	37441954

Dietary Challenges for Parasitoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea); Coping with Toxic Hosts, or Not?

Quicke DL, Ghafouri Moghaddam M, Butcher BA

Toxins (Basel)

29-Jun-2023

PMCID:	PMC10467097
doi:	10.3390/toxins15070424
PMID:	37505693

Kumar MA, K P K

J Ayurveda Integr Med

27-Jun-2023

PMCID:	PMC10692372
doi:	10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100741

Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli: Mechanisms of Infection and Treatment Options

Zhou Y, Zhou Z, Zheng L, Gong Z, Li Y, Jin Y, Huang Y, Chi M

Int J Mol Sci

23-Jun-2023

PMCID:	PMC10341809
doi:	10.3390/ijms241310537
PMID:	37445714

Overview of aristolochic acid nephropathy: an update

Zhou Q, Jiang L, Su T, Liu G, Yang L

Kidney Res Clin Pract

15-Jun-2023

PMCID:	PMC10565449
doi:	10.23876/j.krcp.22.211
PMID:	37448287

Anxiolytic-like Effects and Quantitative EEG Profile of Palmitone Induces Responses Like Buspirone Rather Than Diazepam as Clinical Drugs

Onofre-Campos D, González-Trujano ME, Moreno-Pérez GF, Narváez-González F, González-Gómez JD, Villasana-Salazar B, Martínez-Vargas D

Molecules

24-Apr-2023

PMCID:	PMC10180017
doi:	10.3390/molecules28093680
PMID:	37175090

A multivariate and quantitative assessment of medicinal plants used by the indigenous Malayali tribes in the Javadhu hills of Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, India

Silambarasan R, Sasidharan S, Nair J H, Kumar S N, R A, Nair AS, Selavinayagam KT

Heliyon

18-Apr-2023

PMCID:	PMC10256831
doi:	10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15607
PMID:	37305490

Do carbon stocks and floristic diversity of tropical homegardens vary along an elevational gradient and based on holding size in central Kerala, India?

Kumar BM

Agrofor Syst

07-Apr-2023

PMCID:	PMC10081327
doi:	10.1007/s10457-023-00821-7
PMID:	37193256

Multi-drug resistant ESKAPE pathogens and the uses of plants as their antimicrobial agents

Idris FN, Nadzir MM

Arch Microbiol

14-Mar-2023

PMCID:	PMC10013289
doi:	10.1007/s00203-023-03455-6
PMID:	36917278

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.

Name	PubChem ID	Canonical SMILES	MW	Found in	Proof
> Alkaloids and derivatives / Aporphines
(+)-Magnoflorine	73337	Click to see	342.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
Cepharadione A	94577	Click to see	305.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017 https://doi.org/10.3987/R-1983-05-0771
> Alkaloids and derivatives / Aporphines / 4,5-dioxoaporphines
4,5-Dioxodehydroasimilobine	10108434	Click to see	293.27	unknown	https://doi.org/10.3987/R-1983-05-0771
> Alkaloids and derivatives / Aristolactams
14-Hydroxy-10-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-3,5-dioxa-10-azapentacyclo[9.7.1.02,6.08,19.013,18]nonadeca-1(18),2(6),7,11(19),12,14,16-heptaen-9-one	162999108	Click to see	441.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50024A001
6-Hexopyranosyl-8-methoxy-2H-(1,3)benzodioxolo(6,5,4-cd)benzo(f)indol-5(6H)-one	53462738	Click to see	455.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)80066-0 https://doi.org/10.1021/JO01274A011
Aristolactam	96710	Click to see	293.27	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JO01274A011
Aristolactam Aii	148657	Click to see	265.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.3987/R-1983-05-0771
aristololactam I-N-beta-D-glucoside	10411690	Click to see	455.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)80066-0 https://doi.org/10.1021/JO01274A011
Aristololactam IV	5319404	Click to see	323.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JO01274A011
> Benzenoids / Naphthalenes / Naphthoquinones
Aristolindiquinone	442723	Click to see	218.20	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
> Benzenoids / Phenanthrenes and derivatives
Aristolic Acid	119465	Click to see	296.27	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
Methyl Aristolate	160246	Click to see	310.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
> Benzenoids / Phenanthrenes and derivatives / Aristolochic acids and derivatives
Aristolochic acid	2236	Click to see COC1=CC=CC2=C3C(=C(C=C21)[N+](=O)[O-])C(=CC4=C3OCO4)C(=O)O	341.27	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
> Benzenoids / Phenanthrenes and derivatives / Phenanthrols
14-Methoxy-3,5,10-trioxapentacyclo[9.7.1.02,6.08,19.013,18]nonadeca-1(18),2(6),7,11(19),12,14,16-heptaen-9-one	86061438	Click to see	294.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.3987/R-1983-05-0771
> Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans / Tetrahydrofuran lignans / 9,9-epoxylignans / Dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans
(3E)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylene)tetrahydrofuran-2-one	5321147	Click to see	352.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
(4R)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethylidene)oxolan-2-one	289044	Click to see C1C(C(=CC2=CC3=C(C=C2)OCO3)C(=O)O1)CC4=CC5=C(C=C4)OCO5	352.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
3,4-Bis(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)tetrahydrofuran-2-one	327062	Click to see	354.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0029-1240952
Hinokinin	442879	Click to see C1C(C(C(=O)O1)CC2=CC3=C(C=C2)OCO3)CC4=CC5=C(C=C4)OCO5	354.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0029-1240952
Savinin	5281867	Click to see C1C(C(=CC2=CC3=C(C=C2)OCO3)C(=O)O1)CC4=CC5=C(C=C4)OCO5	352.30	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids
(1R,5R,6S,8S,9R,10R)-5,6,9-trimethyltetracyclo[7.2.1.01,6.08,10]dodecane	14619931	Click to see	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)97854-8
(1R,5R,6S,8S,9S,10R)-5,6,9-trimethyltetracyclo[7.2.1.01,6.08,10]dodecane	163009191	Click to see	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)97854-8
(1S,2S,5R,6S,8S,9S,10R)-5,6,9-trimethyltetracyclo[7.2.1.01,6.08,10]dodecan-2-ol	101306838	Click to see	220.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)97854-8
Ishwarane	14619932	Click to see	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)97854-8
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids / 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids
Ledum camphor	92812	Click to see	222.37	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017 https://doi.org/10.1021/JO01311A043
Ledum camphor	22297324	Click to see CC1CCC2C1C3C(C3(C)C)CCC2(C)O	222.37	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
Npc239037	101716	Click to see	222.37	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JO01311A043
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eremophilane, 8,9-secoeremophilane and furoeremophilane sesquiterpenoids
4,4a-dimethyl-6-prop-1-en-2-yl-2,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydro-1H-naphthalene	2237	Click to see CC1CCCC2=CCC(CC12C)C(=C)C	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)97854-8
Aristolochene	161533	Click to see CC1CCCC2=CCC(CC12C)C(=C)C	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)97854-8
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides
Alpha-benzoyloxypaeoniflorin	102597515	Click to see	600.60	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(00)81649-4
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids / Limonoids
[(1R,5S,6R,10R,11S,12R,15R,16R,18S)-16,18-diacetyloxy-6-(furan-3-yl)-1,5,10,15-tetramethyl-13-oxapentacyclo[10.6.1.02,10.05,9.015,19]nonadec-8-en-11-yl] (E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoate	163080087	Click to see	642.80	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1002/PCA.1208
Deacetylnimbin	10505484	Click to see CC1=C2C(CC1C3=COC=C3)OC4C2(C(C5(C(C4O)C(C=CC5=O)(C)C(=O)OC)C)CC(=O)OC)C	498.60	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1002/PCA.1208
dimethyl (1S,4S,5R,6S,7S,8R,11S,12R,14S,15R)-4,7,14-trihydroxy-6-[(1S,2S,6S,8S,9R,11S)-2-hydroxy-11-methyl-5,7,10-trioxatetracyclo[6.3.1.02,6.09,11]dodec-3-en-9-yl]-6-methyl-12-[(E)-2-methylbut-2-enoyl]oxy-3,9-dioxatetracyclo[6.6.1.01,5.011,15]pentadecane-4,11-dicarboxylate	101999884	Click to see CC=C(C)C(=O)OC1CC(C23COC(C2C(C(C4C3C1(CO4)C(=O)OC)O)(C)C56C7CC(C5(O6)C)C8(C=COC8O7)O)(C(=O)OC)O)O	678.70	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1039/C0AY00008F
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Ergostane steroids / Ergosterols and derivatives
(24R)-5-Ergosten-3beta-ol	312822	Click to see	400.70	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
(3S,8S,9S,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5,6-dimethylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol	134766514	Click to see	400.70	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Oxosteroids
(3S,8S,9R,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-3-hydroxy-1,2,3,4,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-7-one	163190882	Click to see	400.60	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)80066-0
(6R,8S,9S,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-6-hydroxy-1,2,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one	162957079	Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1CCC3C2CC(C4=CC(=O)CCC34)O)C(C)C	400.60	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)80066-0
17-(5-Ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-3-hydroxy-1,2,3,4,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-7-one	163062538	Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1CCC3C2C(=O)C=C4C3CCC(C4)O)C(C)C	400.60	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)80066-0
17-(5-Ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-6-hydroxy-1,2,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one	162957078	Click to see	400.60	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)80066-0
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol	86821	Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C	414.70	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
Stigmast-5-en-3-ol	22012	Click to see	414.70	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
Stigmasterol	5280794	Click to see	412.70	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50032A017
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Tertiary alcohols
(1R,5R,6S,9S,10S)-5,6,10-trimethyltricyclo[7.2.1.01,6]dodecan-10-ol	163014736	Click to see CC1CCCC23C1(CCC(C2)C(C3)(C)O)C	222.37	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JO01311A043
5,6,10-Trimethyltricyclo[7.2.1.01,6]dodecan-10-ol	13045244	Click to see	222.37	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/JO01311A043

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Aristolochia indica

Table of Contents

Details Top

Ethnobotanical Use Top

General Uses Top

Synonyms Top

Common names Top

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Germination/Propagation Top

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Links to other databases Top

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Scientific Literature Top

Phytochemical Profile Top

Gallery Top

Contributors Top

Collections Top