The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7467 p224
1 September 2007

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MHRA issues Chinese medicine warning about aristolochia

A warning about traditional Chinese medicines found to contain aristolochia has been issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency following the purchase of Xie Gan Wan pills from a Chinese herbalist in South Wales.

The use of aristolochia, which is associated with kidney failure and cancer, has been prohibited in unlicensed medicines since 1999.

Products found to contain aristolochia in recent years include

• Xie Gan Wan
• Longdan Xie Gan Wan
• Guan Xin Su He
• Longdan Qiegan Wan (Longdan Xie Gan Wan)
• Jingzhi Kesou Tanchuan
• Guanxin Suhe Capsules
• Qing Re An Cang Wan

The MHRA requests that anyone who has purchased these products or has any information on their sale or supply should contact the agency immediately.