Ishwari
Aristolochia indica L.
Ishwari (Aristolochia indica L.) is a plant drug, also called Arkamula, Gandhnakuli and Isvari, from the Aristolochiaceae family.
| Botanical name | Aristolochia indica L. |
|---|---|
| Family | Aristolochiaceae |
| Order | Piperales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | WHO and IARC have classified aristolochic acids as Group 1 human carcinogens; European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued public warnings against all Aristolochia-containing products; banned in EU, US, and many Asian countries |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 7313567 · Wikidata Q3595780 · NCBI Taxonomy 158548 |
| Sanskrit | अर्कमूला (arkamūlā), Gandhnakuli, ईश्वरी (īśvarī), Nagadamani, रुद्रजटा (rudrajaṭā) |
|---|---|
| Hindi | ईशरमूल (īśaramūla), Ishwari |
| English | Indian Birthwort, Serpent Root |
| Tamil | Ichchuramule, Perumarundu, ஈச்சுரமூலி, பெருமருந்து, மாம்பாஞ்சான் |
| Malayalam | Karaleyan |
| Telugu | Iswari, Nallaiswari |
| Kannada | Ishwari Beru, Toppalu |
| Marathi | Sapsan |
| Bengali | Isheri |
| Gujarati | Iswarimool, Ruhimool |
| Urdu | Zarawand Hindi |
| Oriya | Gopikaron |
| Assamese | Jarvande |
Sources: 'Names of Plants in India :: Aristolochia indica L.' (indiantreepix compilation, Tamil names in Tamil script): ஈச்சுரமூலி (ishvara-muli), மாம்பாஞ்சான் (mampancan), பெருமருந்து (peru-maruntu). Corroborated by FRLHT ENVIS Centre on Medicinal Plants, which lists Tamil Perumarunthukodi / Isvaramuli / Thazhaisurulikodi for Aristolochia indica.; 'Names of Plants in India :: Aristolochia indica L.', Sanskrit list in Devanagari.; 'Names of Plants in India :: Aristolochia indica L.', Tamil names in Tamil script; FRLHT ENVIS Centre on Medicinal Plants lists Tamil Isvaramuli / Eshwara mooli for Aristolochia indica.; 'Names of Plants in India :: Aristolochia indica L.', Tamil script; FRLHT ENVIS gives Tamil Perumarunthukodi for Aristolochia indica.; 'Names of Plants in India:: Aristolochia indica L.', Hindi names in Devanagari: ईशरमूल, विषापहा.; 'Names of Plants in India:: Aristolochia indica L.', Sanskrit names given in Devanagari: अर्कमूला, ईश्वरी, रुद्रजटा, सुनन्दा, विषापहा.; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (column alignment reconstructed). How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 1982 to 2022, 11 with a DOI.
- 4Other clinical studies and reviews
- 8Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Indian Birthwort |
| Latin/Botanical | Aristolochia indica L. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Aristolochic acid I and II (CARCINOGENIC)
- Aristolactams
- Aristolochine and aristolochene
- Ishwarone and ishwarane (sesquiterpenes)
- Cepharanthine (bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid)
- Aristolindiquinone
How does it work?
- CARCINOGENIC: Aristolochic acid forms DNA adducts (dA-AA and dG-AA) leading to characteristic A:T to T:A transversion mutations in TP53 tumor suppressor gene
- Nephrotoxic: Causes progressive tubulointerstitial fibrosis and renal failure (aristolochic acid nephropathy)
- Anti-snake venom (traditional): Root extract shows neutralization of phospholipase A2 and protease activities of snake venoms in vitro
- Anti-inflammatory: Aristolactams show COX-2 inhibition but this benefit does not justify the carcinogenic risk
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Snake bite antidote (Sarpa-visha-hara): traditionally used for snake bite. An in vitro study reported partial anti-venom activity. Unsafe for human use due to aristolochic acid content.
- Emmenagogue (Artava-janana): traditionally used to promote menstruation. Contraindicated due to carcinogenicity.
- Anti-inflammatory (Shotha-hara): traditionally used for inflammation. Any such use is outweighed by the risk of cancer and kidney damage.
- NOTE: ALL traditional uses of Aristolochia indica are SUPERSEDED by safety concerns; use of this herb is NOT recommended under any circumstances
What do recent studies show?
- Bhattacharjee P, Bhattacharyya D 2013. Characterization of the aqueous extract of the root of Aristolochia indica: evaluation of its traditional use as an antidote for snake bites. Journal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 23174522 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2012.10.056
Identified aristolochic acid content of root extract as 3.08 +/- 1.88 x 10^-3 mg/mL; acute and sub-chronic studies showed no toxicity at lower doses, but high doses caused liver and kidney damage.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- BANNED in multiple countries including USA, Canada, Germany, UK, France, Belgium, Austria, and Japan due to confirmed carcinogenicity and nephrotoxicity of aristolochic acids
- IARC Group 1 carcinogen (confirmed human carcinogen); causes aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) and significantly increases risk of urothelial/bladder cancer
- Even low aristolochic acid concentrations pose cumulative cancer risk with chronic exposure; no safe dose established for internal human use; traditional Ayurvedic Shodhana methods do NOT reliably eliminate aristolochic acids
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Capsule, Swarasa (fresh juice)
Standard Dosage: No safe dose established for internal human use; not recommended under any circumstances.
Optimal Timing: NOT recommended for any internal use or modern formulation
Storage: If held for research purposes: controlled substance storage, clearly labeled as toxic/restricted material. Not for commercial distribution in most markets.
Marker Compounds: Aristolochic acid I (toxic marker - must be below detection/regulatory limit), Aristolochic acid II (toxic marker), Aristolactam, Ceryl alcohol, Beta-sitosterol
Synergistic Combinations
- With Maricha for snakebite antidote (traditional use)
- With Pippali for respiratory conditions (traditional use only)
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews4
- 2021. Is it safe to consume traditional medicinal plants during pregnancy?Phytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 33164294 · doi:10.1002/ptr.6935
- 2018. Natural Aristolochia Alkaloid Aristololactam-β-D-glucoside: Interaction with Biomacromolecules and Correlation to the Biological PerspectivesMini reviews in medicinal chemistry. PMID 29473499 · doi:10.2174/1389557518666180222170050
- 2009. Local uses of Aristolochia species and content of nephrotoxic aristolochic acid 1 and 2--a global assessment based on bibliographic sourcesJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 19505558 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2009.05.028
- 1982. Research on plants for fertility regulation in IndiaJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 6752588 · doi:10.1016/0378-8741(82)90004-6
Laboratory and animal studies8
- 2022. Antioxidant and Antivenom Potential of an Essential Oil, 4-(2-Oxo-propyl)-cyclopentane-1,3-dione, and Allantoin Derived from the Polyherbal Combination of Aristolochia indica L. and Piper nigrum LEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 35295928 · doi:10.1155/2022/4797884
- 2021. Chemotaxonomy of the ethnic antidote Aristolochia indica for aristolochic acid content: Implications of anti-phospholipase activity and genotoxicity studyJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 32980485 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113416
- 2018. Evaluation of Aristolochia indica L. and Piper nigrum L. methanol extract against centipede Scolopendra moristans L. using Wistar albino rats and screening of bioactive compounds by high pressure liquid chromatography: a polyherbal formulationBiomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. PMID 29793322 · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2017.11.114
- 2015. In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Aqueous and Ethanol Extracts of Aristolochia indica and Toddalia asiatica Against Multidrug-Resistant BacteriaIndian journal of pharmaceutical sciences. PMID 26997710 · doi:10.4103/0250-474X.174991
- 2015. Aristolochia indica green-synthesized silver nanoparticles: A sustainable control tool against the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi?Research in veterinary science. PMID 26412532 · doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.08.001
- 2014. Investigation on antidiarrhoeal activity of Aristolochia indica Linn. Root extracts in miceAfrican journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM. PMID 25435611 · doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v11i2.11
- 2013. Characterization of the aqueous extract of the root of Aristolochia indica: evaluation of its traditional use as an antidote for snake bitesJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 23174522 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2012.10.056
- 2011. Anti-inflammatory, Antipruritic and Mast Cell Stabilizing Activity of Aristolochia IndicaIranian journal of basic medical sciences. PMID 23493617
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
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