Stephania is a genus of flowering plants in the family Menispermaceae, native to eastern and southern Asia and Australia.

They are herbaceous perennial vines, growing to around four metres tall, with a large tuber.

Other varieties substituted include Cocculus thunbergii, C. trulobus, Aristolochia fangchi, Stephania tetrandria, and Sinomenium acutum.

[5] However, the most commonly available species in the United States, Stephania tetrandra, has not been shown to be toxic.

Any confusion regarding the possible toxicity of Stephania tetrandra was entirely due to an inadvertent shipment of Aristolochia fangchi sent in its stead to a Belgian clinic in 1993.