Abstract: Aristolonic acid is a nitro phenanthrene organic acid compound which is found as a main component of Fructus Aristolochiae, Caulis aristolochiae Manshuriensis, Asari Radix et Rhizoma and many other medicinal plants. Aristolochic acid has extensive pharmaceutical action, it has function such as anti infection, anti tumor, abortifacient and cellular immunity enhancing properties. This article summarize the research progress of nephrotoxicity and the molecular structure of aristolochic acid and also give a rewiew on the quality control research of aristolochic acid in different Chinese herbal medicines and Chinese patent medicines in recent five years. This paper compared and analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of different detection methods, which may provide the basis for the further research and clinical application of aristolochic acid in the future.