Objective To study the diterpene alkaloids from the roots and processed products of Aconitum pendulum.Methods The chemical constituents were isolated and purified using silica gel column chromatography.Their structures were determined on the basis of NMR and mass spectra.ResultsTwelve compounds were isolated and identified as deoxyaconitine(1),3-acetylaconitine(2),aconitine(3),15?-OH-neoline(4),8-acetyl-15-hydroxyneoline(5),neoline(6),14-benzoyl-8-O-methylaconine(7),benzoylaconine(8),polyschistine D(9),benzoyldeoxyaconine(10),polyschistine A(11),and aconine(12).Conclusion Diterpene alkaloids are the main chemical constituents of A.pendulum and compounds 4—8 are found in this plant for the first time.Compared to raw materials,some boiled processed products change into new components:polyschistine D(9),benzoyldeoxyaconine(10),polyschistine A(11),and aconine(12).Identification of these components provides basis for the processing principles.

OBJECTIVETo study the processing principles of different processed products of Aconitum pendulum.

METHODUsing high performance liquid chromatography and acute toxicity test to compare the changes in chemical composition and toxicity of the roots and processed products of A. pendulum.

RESULTThe main toxic components of the roots of A. pendulum were aconitine, deoxyaconitine and 3-acetylaconitine. The contents of these three alkaloids were significantly reduced in processed products, while benzoylaconitine significantly increased. In addition, processed products emerged aconine, polyschistine-D, beyzoyldeoxyaconine, 16-epi-pyroaconitine and 16-epi-pyrodeoxyaconitine. From the structural analysis, these new emerged compounds transformed from the aconitine, deoxyaconitine and 3-acetylaconitine.

CONCLUSIONDifferent processing methods can reduce the toxicity of the roots of A. pendulum. Processing principle is ester hydrolysis and high-temperature pyrolysis.

Aconitine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Aconitum ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Animals ; Female ; Male ; Mice