aristolochic acid hepatocarcinogenesis dependent chemical compound aristolochic acid [hepatocarcinogenesis] 8-methoxy-6-nitrophenanthro[3,4-d][1,3]dioxole-5-carboxylic acid A monocarboxylic acid that is phenanthrene-1-carboxylic acid that is substituted by a methylenedioxy group at the 3,4 positions, by a methoxy group at position 8, and by a nitro group at position 10. It is the most abundant of the aristolochic acids and is found in almost all Aristolochia (birthworts or pipevines) species. It has been tried in a number of treatments for inflammatory disorders, mainly in Chinese and folk medicine. However, there is concern over their use as aristolochic acid is both carcinogenic and nephrotoxic. PMID:31439937