New developments of aristolochic acid mutagenesis and carcinogenesis

Chinese Herbs Nephropathy has made global focuses on the nephrotoxicity of aristolochic acid(AA).More studies found that patients who had aristolochic acid nephropathy were complicated by urothelial cancer,therefore driving more resources on elucidation of the molecular mechanism of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis by aristolochic acid.Two major components,aristolochic acid I and aristolochic acid II,are considered as genotoxic mutagens.This paper discusses the mechanism of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis of these two components,involving the formation of AA-DNA adducts,metabolic activation,the distribution in vivo and oncogene mutation of AA-DNA adducts.