The Scientist : Manna from hell

Balkan endemic nephropathy seems to be aristolochic acid nephropathy and is contracted when minute amounts of the plant Aristolochia clematitis. A chinese medicinal herb, Aristolochia fanghi is an ingredient in Chinese herbal medicines that have also been associated with kidney cancer.

The Scientist : Manna from hell

How a US-Croatian team confirmed that poisoned bread causes a kidney disease endemic to the Balkans - and verified that the same toxic ingredient was in herbal supplements used around the world.

Persistence pays off! These guys methodically put together a study drawing on Molecular Biology, Agro Ecology, Epidemiology. Toxicology. An intriguing international tale.