Aconitum

Aconitum anthora, L. Anthorine, soluble in ether, dextrorotatory ijj-anthorine, insoluble in ether both amorphous and of low toxicity. A. Balfourii, Stapf. (India). Pseudaconitine i (p. 682). 

Aconitum septentrionale. In 1896 Rosendahl isolated from this plant three alkaloids, which were re-examined by Schulze and Ulfert and by Weidemann, whose results differ in some points. 

Aconitum lycoctonum. From the roots of this species Hiibschmann isolated the amorphous alkaloids acolyctine and lycoctonine. Dragen-dorff and Spohn showed that Hiibschmann s alkaloids were probably decomposition products of lycaconitine, C2,H3403N2. 2H2O, which they isolated along with myoctonine, 27 30 8 2 - 5H2O. These results liave been considerably extended by Schulze and Bierling, and more recently by Marion and Manske, for lycoctonine. 

Diterpenoid alkaloids Aconitum leucostomum SiOj CHCI3 - MeOH - MCjCO DragendorlTs reagent IR, NMR, EI-MS 12... 

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,... 

Zhao XY, Wang Y, Li Y, et al. Songorine, a diterpenoid alkaloid of the genus Aconitum, is a novel GABAa receptor antagonist in rat brain. Neurosci Lett 2003 337 33-36. 

Ameri A. Effects of the Aconitum alkaloid songorine on synaptic transmission and paired-pulse facilitation of CA1 pyramidal cells in rat hippocampal slices. Br J Pharmacol 1998 125 461—468. 

The genera of Aconitum (commonly known as Monkshood) and Delphinium, and to a lesser extent Rumex, Consolida, and Spiraea, have long been recognized as a rich source of alkaloid natural products [1], The diterpenoid alkaloids are generally classified into two major groups the Ci9-diterpenoid alkaloids (sometimes referred to as the Cig-norditerpenoid alkaloids) and the C2o-diterpenoid alkaloids. Within the C2o-diterpenoid alkaloids, at least 11 separate classes have been isolated, including the hetisine alkaloids (Chart 1.1). 

Rapid-acting channel-activating neurotoxin. It is obtained from the leaves and roots of various plants including wolfbane (Aconitum lycoctonum) and monkshood (Aconitum napellus). It is an off-white powder that is insoluble in water (0.03% ) but soluble in chloroform and benzene. Various salts have been reported. 

Abstract Recently, we have investigated Aconitum cochleare Woroschin and obtained three new alkaloids cochleareine, acoleareine from the aerial parts of the plant and cochleareinine from the roots. Cochlearenine exhibited antioxidant activity against DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The cardio active effect of has also have been studied on isolated heart preparations. 

Keywords Alkaloids, antioxidant activity, Aconitum cochleare. Delphinium linearilobum, diterpen, norditerpen, spectroscopy... 

There is a long history of the use of Aconitum, Delphinium and Consolida species as the source of poisons and medicinals [1]. These three genera in Ranunculaceae family yield diterpenoid and norditerpenoid alkaloids. The name Delphinium derived from dolphine-delphine due to the shape of their flower buds [2]. Aconitum has an evil reputation from the antiquity [3]. The plant was used as poison in old Greece, also in north-west Pacific the natives used it to poison the whales and also as arrow poison. In England in the ancient times the plant was used against wolves, boars, tigers as well as against rodents, and it was also a homicide material [4]. 

The history of Delphinium is more peaceful, although, due to its poisinous property it was used against mammals. Crushed seeds of Delphinium staphisagria L. was used against body lice [5]. British army used the plant for this aim in Waterloo war as well as in the Great War. Medicinal use of Aconitum and Delphinium spans... 

In Turkey there are about 31 Delphinium, 8 Consolida and only 4 Aconitum species. So far we had studied 17 Delphinium, 7 Consolida and 3 Aconitum species. From these studies we have obtained more than 100 alkaloids, about 50 of them were new compounds [17]. 

Recently we have studied the fourth Turkish Aconitum species namely A. cochleare Woroschin. The aerial parts and the roots were investigated separately. From the aerial parts four alkaloids talatisamine, 14-acetyltalatisamine, cochleareine (9) and acoleareine (10) were isolated [18]. 

Chemical and Biological Studies with an Aconitum and a Delphinium Species 43... 

Distribution of alkaloids in traditional Chinese medicinal plants, 32, 241 (1988) Diterpenoid alkaloids Aconitum, 7, 473 (1960), 12, 2 (1970)... 

Ask the average person on the street about "natural products," and he or she is likely to mention the kinds of products found on the shelves of grocery stores and stores that specialize in "organic and "natural foods. Those items are overwhelmingly plant products, and they range from aconitum napellus (monkshood), alfalfa, allium cepa, aloe vera, angelica, and anise seed to witch hazel, yarrow, yellow dock, yohimhe hark, and yucca. 

SOURCE Roots of Aconitum napellus, A. Columbianum, A. ferox, and many others. Also present in seeds and, in small amounts, in all other parts of the plant. 

---