Snakeroot

Scientific Name(s): Aristolochia serpentaria L.
Common Name(s): Aristolochiae Radix, Birthwort, Caulis Aristolochiae Manshuriensis, Herba Aristolochiae Mollissima, mǎdōu líng, Pelican flower, Red River snakeroot, Sangree root, Sangrel, Snakeroot, Snakeweed, Texas snakeroot, Virginia snakeroot

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 12, 2021.

Clinical Overview

Use

Despite traditional claims of efficacy for snakebite, among other uses, toxicity of Aristolochia extracts precludes their use.

Dosing

Toxicity of Aristolochia extracts precludes their use.

Contraindications

Avoid use. Aristolochia extracts are toxic. Avoid use in pregnancy.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use. Aristolochia extracts are known to be toxic. Abortifacient effects of aristolochic acids have been documented in animal studies.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Extracts of Aristolochia are known to be toxic (carcinogenic and nephrotoxic). Safety concerns regarding use of products containing aristolochic acids exist.

Toxicology

Aristolochia extracts are carcinogenic and nephrotoxic.

Scientific Family

• Aristolochiaceae (birthwort)

Botany

The genus Aristolochia (Dutchman's pipe) comprises more than 300 species of herbs and vines, including A. serpentaria (also known as Virginia snakeroot). Synonyms include Aristolochia convolvulacea, Aristolochia hastate, Aristolochia nashi, and Endodeca serpentaria. "Snakeroot" is a term also applied to the unrelated white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima), rattlesnake root (genus Prenanthes), Canadian blacksnakeroot (Sanicula canadensis), black snakeroot (Actaea racemose), and Sampson’s snakeroot (Orbexilum pedunculatum).USDA 2016

A. serpentaria is a low-growing (up to 0.6 m in height) perennial found primarily in the forests of the central and southern United States. The leaves of the plant are heart-shaped. Its exotic, brownish-purple, tube-like flowers are lined with hairs and possess a foul, fruit-like odor that attracts insects. Insects become caught in the hairs of the flowers, then become covered with pollen while struggling to escape; upon escape, the insect carries the pollen to other flowers, resulting in cross-pollination. The dried rhizome of the plant has been traditionally used as an herbal tonic for its gastric stimulant and diuretic effects.Sharp 2014

Several species of butterfly larvae feed on A. serpentaria, transferring the toxic aristolochic acids of the plant to the adult butterflies for use as a defense mechanism against predators.Pinto 2009, Wu 2000

History

Aristolochia spp. have been widely and extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine, as well as in England and the Americas. Chewed snakeroot was traditionally applied to wounds and used as a cure for snakebite by American Indians. Colonial and European physicians sometimes used snakeroot for infectious fevers, malaria, and rabies. Use in obstetrics, arthritis, eczema, cancer, and weight loss, and as an aphrodisiac, antiviral, and antibacterial agent has been recorded.Heinrich 2009, Kuo 2012, Luciano 2015, Tang 1992

Toxicity of A. serpentaria was reported as early as 1825; in 2000, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning regarding preparations containing aristolochic acids.FDA 2014, Stegelmeier 2015 In 2004, the European Union ceased approving herbal preparations containing aristolochic acids. The compound has also...