Copper aspirinate Copper aspirinate Copper(II) aspirinate is an aspirin chelate of copper(II) cations (Cu). It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Copper aspirinate can be prepared by several methods. In one route of preparation, an excess of acetylsalicylic acid is dissolved in aqueous sodium carbonate. Sodium hydroxide is not suitable for this purpose, because it will hydrolyse acetylsalicylic acid ("ASA") into salicylic acid and sodium acetate. The resulting solution is then filtered to remove any undissolved acetylsalicylic acid and is mixed with a solution containing Cu cations (copper(II) sulfate is suitable), precipitating bright blue crystals of copper aspirinate immediately. The crystals can
Aristolochic acid Aristolochic acid Aristolochic acids () are a family of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic phytochemicals commonly found in the flowering plant family Aristolochiaceae (birthworts). Aristolochic acid (AA) I is the most abundant one. The family Aristolochiaceae includes the genera "Aristolochia" and "Asarum" (wild ginger), which are commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine. Although these compounds are widely associated with kidney problems, liver and urothelial cancers, the use of AA-containing plants for medicinal purposes has a long history. The FDA has issued warnings regarding consumption of AA-containing supplements. Birthwort plants, and the aristolochic acids they contain, were quite common in ancient Greek