Aconite/aconitum

Aconite Aconitum species Analgesic Alkaloid, cardiac and central nervous system effects Avoid... 

A paragraph is given to herbal medicine as practiced in Tibet, with the comment that many of their substances have bad side effects, the same as for conventional chemotherapy. Some of these substances are aconite (Aconitum ferrox), which is very poisonous, sweet flag or calamus (Acorns calamus), bitumen, and arsenic, all of which require close monitoring. 

Aconite Aconitum spp 1 Nausea, vomiting, arrhythmias, shock... 

Aconitic add an unsaturated tricarboxylic acid, usually occurring in the cis form (m.p. 130°C), but sometimes in the irons (m.p. 194-195 °C). Free A. a. was first discovered in aconite, Aconitum napellus. The anionic form of cis-A. a. (propene-cis-l,23-trioic acid) is important as an intermediate in the isomerization of citrate to isocitrate in the Tricarboxylic add cycle (see). 

Aconitine an extremely poisonous ester and alkaloid (see Terpene alkaloids) from the roots of aconite (Aconitum napellus) and other Aconitum and Delphinium species. Between 1 and 2 mg A. causes death in adult humans by paralysing the heart and respiration. In spite of useful physiological properties, A. is rarely used clinically, due to its toxidty. A. is sometimes used internally as a tincture for rheumatism and neuralgias, and externally as a pain-killing salve. In antiquity, aconite preparations were used as arrow poisons by the Greeks and (East) Indians. Its hydrolysis products are only slightly toxic. 

Aconitum alkaloids a group of terpene alkaloids, some of them very poisonous, from various aconite (Aconitum) species. The best known representative is Aconitine (see). 

Aconitum fischeri Reichb., or fischer s monkshood, American aconite, bao ye vuu tou, or vou tou (Chinese), is an herb that grows to a height of 1.6 m tall in China, Korea,... 

Aconite alkaloids Aconitine, molecular formula C34H47NO11, is an example of an aconite alkaloid. It is soluble in organic solvents, e.g. CHCI3 and CeHg, and sfightly soluble in alcohol or ether, but insoluble in water. Aconitine is an extremely toxic substance obtained from the plants of the genus Aconitum (family Ranunculaceae), commonly known as aconite or monkshood . It is a neurotoxin, and used for creating models of cardiac arrhythmia. 

Perhaps the most important examples of terpenoid alkaloids from a pharmacological point of view are those found in aconite or wolfsbane (Aconitum species Ranunculaceae) and species of Delphinium (Ranunculaceae). Whilst Aconitum... 

Aconites, commonly called wolfsbane or monkshood, are species of Aconitum (Ranunculaceae), valued ornamental herbaceous plants, grown for their showy blue or purple flowers, which are shaped like a monk s cowl. Their alkaloid content, mainly in the roots, makes them some of the most toxic plants commonly encountered. The dried roots of Aconitum napellus were once used, mainly externally for relief of pain, e.g. in rheumatism. The toxic alkaloids (0.3-1.5%) are complex diterpene-derived esters. Aconitine (Figure 6.124) is the principal component (about 30%) and is a diester of aconine with acetic and benzoic acids. Hydrolysis products benzoylaconine and aconine are also present in dried plant material. These alkaloids appear to behave as neurotoxins by acting on sodium channels. All species of Aconitum and Delphinium are potentially toxic to man and animals and must be treated with caution. 

Aconitum napellus (Aconite, monkshood, wolfsbane, soldier s cap)... 

Very little quantitative data have been reported in relation to the concentration of aconitic acid in various plant juices other than from cane sorghum and from sugar cane varieties although the acid has been identified in the juices from many other species of plants. It has been isolated from a variety of species of Aconitum,1-7-11 Delphinium,9 12 and Equisetum,2 3-l2a and also from Achillea millefolium,Adonis vernalis,u,lb Helinus ovatus,16 Sansevieria zeylancia,17 wheat,18 and from barley, maize, oat and rye plants.19 It can indeed be said that aconitic acid, at least qualitatively, is a commonly occurring constituent in the plant kingdom. 

Aconitic Acid occurs in the leaves and tubers of Aconitum napellus L. (Fam. Ranunculaceae) and various species of Achillea and Equisetum, in beet root, and in sugar cane. It may be synthesized by the dehydration of citric acid by sulfuric or methanesulfonic acid. Aconitic Acid from the above sources has the trans configuration. It has a melting point of 195° to 200° with decomposition. It is practically odorless and has a winy taste. It is soluble in water and in alcohol and is slightly soluble in ether. 

Species of aconite contain a variety of diterpene alkaloids Aconitum napellus (monkshood) contains isonapelline, luciculine, and napelline. 

Aconitine (C33H43NO12) is found in various parts of Aconitum Napellus. It is particularly abundant in the tuberous root of this plant. If sections of aconite root are treated on a glass shde with solution of potassium permanganate, a red precipitate of aconitine permanganate will appear in the cells containing this alkaloid. 

Research on diterpenoid alkaloids published during the past year has continued to expand the body of structural and synthetic information available on these complex plant bases. The structures of ten new alkaloids from Aconitum and Delphinium species, including seven new bisditerpenoid alkaloids, have been reported. Tlie most significant progress in methods of structure elucidation has been the very successful applications of n.m.r. to the study of complex diterpenoid alkaloids. The New Bruns wick group under Professor Karel Wiesner has continued its progress toward the syntheses of the Ci9-aconitine-type alkaloids. An historical account of the synthesis of talatisamine (1), the first synthesis of a hexacyclic aconite alkaloid, has been published. This work was reviewed in a previous Report. ... 

Synonyms Aconitum napellus Monkshood Wolfsbane Helmet flower Friar s cap Soldier s cap Aconite... 

Mizugaki, M., Ito, K., Ohyama, Y., Konishi, Y., Tanaka, S. and Kurasawa, K. (1998) Quantitative analysis of aconitum alkaloids in the urine and serum of a male attempting suicide by oral intake of aconite extract. J. Anal. Toxicol. 22, 336-340. 

ACONITE, Aconiti radix, the tuberous root of Aconitum napellus (L.), family Ranunculaceae, is a classical analgesic drug, which was formally used. As a homoeopathic remedy it is used in the dilution D6 (1 1 million) and thus without any effect according to the concepts of conventional medicine. 

Aconite is sometimes added to liquors in India to increase their intoxicating effect, and this has been known to lead to fatal poisoning. Numerous species of Aconitum occur in various parts of the world, varying considerably in their toxicity and alkaloidal content. Poisoning in livestock is not common, though horses have been known to crop the plant (238, 239) and cattle have been poisoned by plants thrown out of the garden in autumn (24). 

Alkaloids of the Aconites.—The different species of Aconitam contain, probably, a number of alkaloids, but our knowledge of them is as yet extremely imperfect. The substances described as aconitin. lycoctanin, napellin are impure." It appears, however, that the principal alkaloids of aconitum napellus and of A. ferox, although differing from each other, are both compounds formed by the union of aeonin, CseHsgITOii, with the radical of benzoic acid in the former, and with that of veratric acid in the latter. 

In a later study, researchers demonstrated the negative inotropic effects of (+)-R-coclaurine (d-coclaurine) (17) and (+)-S-reticulin (d-reticulene) (18) as well as their antagonistic actions to higenamine (23), the cardiotonic principle of aconite root Aconitum sp.) [45]. In essence, (+)-R-coclaurine and (+)-S-reticulin act as muscle relaxants and to prevent muscle contractions induced by higenamine. 

Aconitine occurs to the extent of 0.4-0.8% in dried tuberous roots of aconite or monkshood (Aconitum napellus L. and Ranun-culaceae) found in India, North America, and Europe. It is used to produce heart arrhythmia in experimental animals and as an antipyretic agent. 

Feraconitine occurs in the tubers of Indian aconite (bish or Aconitum ferox), found in India and Nepal. It is used in arrow poisoning for hunting. Clinically, it is used in treating rheumatism. 

Monkshood Aconitum napellus 1 Aconite hypotension, AV block, arrhythmias seizures... 

---