(isoaconitine, pseudoaconitine; others include
12-epidehydronapelline,12-epiacetyldehydro-
napelline,1,14-diacetylneoline,N-deethylaco-
nitine, aconosine, 14-acetylneoline, hokbusine
A, senbusine A, senbusine C, mesaconitine,
neoline, and songoramine.1–3Alkaloid content
decreases with altitude from 0.82% of fresh
root of plants grown at 1750 m to 0.29%
at 2500 m. Aconitine content is greatest in
winter-dormant tubers (FROHNE AND PFANDER).^4
On hydrolysis, aconitine yields picraconi-
tine, which in turn yields aconine on further
hydrolysis.
Compounds identified from raw (dried)A.
carmichaelii Debx. include aconitines, cory-
neinechloride,andhigenamine,allofwhichhave
been implicated in cardioactivity of the tubers.^5
Other constituents include aconitic acid,
itaconic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid,
fructose, maltose, melibiose, mannitol, starch,
fat, and resin.
PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES
Extracts ofA. carmichaeliihave shown cardio-
tonic activity, including inotropic and chrono-
tropic activities, leading to hypotension and/or
hypertension. Analgesic and anesthetic activi-
ties have been reported. Hyoscine potentiates
the action of aconitine.^5 Aconitine and related
compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory and an-
algesic properties in experimental animals.^6 dl-
Demethylcoclaurine, a component of prepared
(processed) lateral rootlets ofA. carmichaelii
(considered a separate drug in Chinese tradi-
tion), has been shown to raise the heart rate in
sinus arrhythmia patients.^7
CertainAconitumspecies are reported to
have antitumor activity in laboratory animals;
others show antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-
viral activities. Extracts of various species also
have antipyretic properties (FARNSWORTH3).^8
During the past decade, extensive studies
have been carried out on the chemistry and
pharmacology of aconite in general. While
hypaconitine is found to be the active neuro-
muscular blocking agent in Asian aconite,^9
higenamine (dl-demethylcoclaurine) and
other chemical components (including a non-
alkaloidal fraction) are the cardiotonic prin-
ciples. These cardiotonic substances are heat
resistant, and their activities are realized after
prolonged decocting, whereby the deadly aco-
nitine is hydrolyzed to the much less toxic
aconine (WANG).TOXICOLOGYAconite is a strong and fast-acting poison,
affecting both the heart and the central ner-
vous system. Its active principles are aconitine
and its related alkaloids. As little as 2 mg
aconitine may cause death from paralysis of
the heart or respiratory center. The lethal dose
for adults generally ranges only from 3 to 6 mg
of aconitine, readily contained in a few grams
of plant material (FROHNE AND PFANDER).
When applied to the skin, aconite produces
tingling and then numbness; poisoning may
result from percutaneous absorption.USESMedicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Now rarely used internally in the United
States; its current use is mainly in liniments
(rubefacients), often with belladonna, for ex-
ternal applications only.Traditional Medicine. Used internally as a
cardiac depressant and mild diaphoretic; ex-
ternally as local analgesic in facial neuralgia,
rheumatism, and sciatica. Related species
such asA. chinensePaxt. andA. kusnezoffii
Reichb. are widely used in Chinese medicines
for rheumatoid arthritis, chronic nephritis,
sciatica, and other ailments. These and other
AsianAconitumspp. have been valued for
their analgesic, anti-inflammatory (antirheu-
matic); antibiotic (antiseptic), antipyretic, and
cardiotonic activities. The methods used for
treating these crude drugs (roots) are numer-
ous and quite different from that for A.
napellus. One method involves soaking and
washing in clear water for several days and
treating with licorice, ginger, black beans,8 Aconite