There is accumulating evidence that Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is an environmental disease caused by aristolochic acids (AAs) released from the decomposition of Aristolochia clematitis L., an AA-containing weed that grows abundantly in the Balkan Peninsula. AA exposure has also been associated
9-Methoxytariacuripyrone, a nitro-aromatic compound isolated from Aristolochia brevipes showed strong mutagenic activity in strain TA98, TA100 and some YG strains of Salmonella typhimurium with and without S9 mix. Incubation with cytosol resulted in a heavy increase in mutagenicity. When incubated