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Aconite: Ethnopharmacological Benefits and Toxicity
Published in Megh R. Goyal, Durgesh Nandini Chauhan, Assessment of Medicinal Plants for Human Health, 2020
Yogini S. Jaiswal, Leonard L. Williams
Aconite belongs to large genus, which consists of about 300 species distributed worldwide.72 It belongs to the genus Aconitum and Ranunculaceae family, and most of its species are grown in higher altitudes. Despite their toxicities, aconite species are used widely in traditional systems of medicines (TSMs) for their analgesic, antineuralgic, antirheumatic, diuretic, anthelmintic, and antipyretic benefits.51,57 The natural habitats of aconite species have been exploited for their uses in TSMs, and this has led to some of the species facing the danger of extinction. Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. Ex Royle has been listed as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).82
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Published in Anton Sebastian, A Dictionary of the History of Medicine, 2018
AconiteAconitium napellus, commonly called wolfsbane, blue rocket or monkshood. Named after the Black Sea port of Aconis. The plant has been in use for medicinal purposes from ancient times in China and India and the Gauls used the alkaloid extract (aconitine) as an arrow poison and the Romans learnt its use from them. Nicander, around 100 BC, proposed quicklime and honey as an antidote for aconitine. Apothecaries in England used it as a medicine in the 12th century and it was included in the pharmacopoeia for its poisonous nature as well as for its medicinal values in 1615. Roots and leaves were used up to the 19th century for various medical purposes, including the common cold, apoplexy and as an antipyretic. The first murder trial in England because of aconitine poisoning took place in 1881. See Lamson, George Henry.
Catalog of Herbs
Published in James A. Duke, Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, 2018
Often planted as an ornamental. Dried leaves are used medicinally because of the effect on the central nervous system, the heart, and blood vessels. It contains glucosides which act as heart tonic, stimulant, and diuretic. Its most important use is in congestive heart failure because it increases the force of systolic contractions. It also provides more rest between those contractions. Also, lowers the venous pressure in hypertensive heart disease. Elevates blood pressure due to impaired heart function and reduces the size of dilated hearts. Diuresis and reduction of edema follow as a result of improved circulation. According to Farnsworth and Morris, digoxin occurred in circa 11 million (0.73% of all prescriptions), digitoxin in circa 5 million (0.33%), and digitalis extracts in 2.5 million (0.16%).98 The drug digitoxin is 1000 times stronger than the powdered leaves. Used as an antidote for aconite. Nineteenth century artist, van Gogh, is speculated to have taken digitalis for epilepsy. Digitalis causes yellow vision, visions of yellow rings, as well as other visual and psychic disturbances, some of which show up in his art.
Bullatine A exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the ROS/JNK/NF-κB pathway and attenuating systemic inflammatory responses in mice
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2022
Shuhan Liu, Na Che, Wen Ou, Meichen Yan, Yajin Liao, Yong Cheng
Phytopharmaceuticals have gained increasing attention worldwide because of their beneficial role in treating a variety of human diseases and the presence of a large number of natural compounds with various chemical properties (Khan et al. 2018). Preparations of the Aconitum genus (Ranunculaceae) have been extensively used to treat and prevent multiple diseases, including pain and neurological and cardiovascular diseases in China and other Asian countries (Li J et al. 2013). In China, approximately 76 Aconitum species are used as medicinal plants based on their toxicity and side effects, therapeutic effects, and phytochemical properties (Ren et al. 2012; Wang and Li 2020). Aconiti brachypodi Radix (Xue-shang-yi-zhi-hao), the dried roots of Aconitum brachypodum Diels and several other morphologically similar Aconitum species, was listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia in 1977 for the treatment of rheumatism and pain (China Pharmacopoeia Committee 1977; Huang et al. 2016).
Four experimental stimulants found in sports and weight loss supplements: 2-amino-6-methylheptane (octodrine), 1,4-dimethylamylamine (1,4-DMAA), 1,3-dimethylamylamine (1,3-DMAA) and 1,3-dimethylbutylamine (1,3-DMBA)
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2018
Pieter A. Cohen, John C. Travis, Peter H. J. Keizers, Patricia Deuster, Bastiaan J. Venhuis
Several supplement labels listed the stimulant as if it were an extract or a constituent of Aconitum kusnezoffii. Aconitum is a genus of flowering plants, commonly referred to as monkshood, found in the Northern hemisphere. Some species of Aconitum have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cardiac insufficiency and other conditions [20]. However, we could find no scientific evidence that 1,4-DMAA had ever been detected in, or extracted from, Aconitum kusnezoffii. 1,4-DMAA has been reported to be a constituent of two plants (Datura stramonium [jimson weed] and Pelargonium graveolens [a geranium]), one bacteria (Bacillus atrophaeus) and a degradation product of corn [21–26]. The majority of these studies [23–26] are tentative identifications, which used gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) library matches only. However, two studies reportedly confirmed the presence of low levels of 1,4-DMAA in samples from the geranium Pelargonium graveolens (notably both of these studies were funded by a single supplement company) [21,22]. Given the quality of research to date, it remains unknown as to whether 1,4-DMAA is actually present in plants or bacteria, and, if so, in what quantities.
Effects of liquorice on pharmacokinetics of aconitine in rats
Published in Xenobiotica, 2019
Yufei He, Zihong Wei, Xiaoyan Ci, Ying Xie, Xiulin Yi, Yong Zeng, Yazhuo Li, Changxiao Liu
The Aconitum plant is a centuries-old herbal medicine, traditionally used in Japan and China for analgesic, antirheumatic and neurological indications (Suzuki et al., 1994). Aconitum alkaloids as the main effective ingredients, however, are with a relatively narrow margin of safety, due to the toxicity (Nyirimigabo et al., 2015; Singhuber et al., 2009). The drug-pair aconite-liquorice was, therefore, commonly used in clinical treatment either enhance its efficacy or reduce the toxicity (He et al., 2013; Yang et al., 2003). Since the chemical composition of herbal medicines is generally rather complicated, the mechanism of compatibility was, therefore, extensively investigated to clarify the rationality for combination use of these two herbs.