Aconitine ; poisoning ; Aconitum ; chemistry ; poisoning ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Charcoal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hemoperfusion ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Poisoning ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of aconitine and Shuang-huang-lian injection on the expression of myocardial ryanodine receptor (RyR2) and to discuss the anti-arrhythmic mechanisms of Shuanghuanglian against aconitine poisoning.
 METHODS: A total of 52 SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: aconitine group (group A, n=20), Shuang-huang-lian group (group B, n=20) and control group (group C, n=12). Aconitine at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg was firstly administrated to the rats of group A and group B through gavage. 30 minutes later, normal saline was delivered to rats in group A through intraperitoneal injection, while rats in group B received Shuang-huang-lian at a dose of 100 mg/kg through intraperitoneal injection. Group C accepted twice administration of normal saline by gavage and intraperitoneal injection. The disposals for each group were implemented for 10 consecutive days. The rats' electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded on day 1, 3, 6 and 10. Immunofluorescent staining technique and real-time quantitative PCR technique was used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of myocardial RyR2.
 RESULTS: The arrhythmia scores of group B at different time were lower than group A and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein and mRNA expression of RyR2 in group A was slightly increased on the first day compared to group B and group C, with no statistical significance (P>0.05). On day 3, 6 and 10, the expression of RyR2 protein and mRNA in group A was dramatically increased compared to group B and group C (P<0.01). 
 CONCLUSION Shuang-huang-lian injection can effectively prevent the arrhythmia caused by aconitine, which is related to suppressing the aconitine-induced RyR2 expression.
Aconitine ; Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel

OBJECTIVETo compare the actions of the three flavone ingredients in choerospondias axillaris on arrhythmias Induced by aconitine.

METHODLangendorff perfuse was applied in the experiment, the antiarrhythmic action was to study by using aconitine on the the isolated heart; The antiarrhythmic action of the three flavone ingredients in choerospondias axillaris was to study by using i.v. aconitine in rat to induce arrhythmias.

RESULTCompared with the NS group, sample 1 and sample 2 both significantly prolonged the beginning time of VF of isolated heart and increased the dosage of aconitine, sample 3 reduced the beginning time of VF of isolated heart and decreased the dosage of aconitine, sample 1 and sample 2 both greatly prolonged the beginning time of VE, VT, VF, HA; sample 3 greatly reduced the beginning time of VT,VF. The actions of the three samples were in a concentration-dependent way.

CONCLUSIONSample 1 and sample 2 both resisted the occurrence of arrhythmias induced by aconitine, sample 3 markedly promoted the occurrence of arrhythmias induced by aconitine.

Aconitine ; Anacardiaceae ; chemistry ; Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Flavones ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of lappaconitine on patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) and serum complement 3 and 4 (C3 and C4) levels of cancer patients undergoing rectum surgery.

METHODSTotally 60 patients, who were scheduled for rectum carcinoma surgery, were recruited to the study and assigned in 3 groups, the blank control group, the tramadol group, and the lappaconitine group, 20 in each group. Lappaconitine (8 mg) was intravenously dripped to patients in the lappaconitine group 30 min before ending the operation. PCIA started as soon as the end of the surgery and the total dose of lappaconitine was 36 mg. Patients of the tramadol group were treated with tramadol (100 mg) intravenously within 30 min before ending the operation. The dripping was completed within 30 min. PCIA was started as soon as the end of the surgery and the total dose of lappaconitine was 36 mg. Tramadol (100 mg) was intravenously dripped to patients in the tramadol group 30 min before ending the operation. PICA was started as soon as the end of the surgery and the total dose of tramadol was 900 mg. Pethidine (50 mg) and droperidol (2. 5 mg) was intramuscularly injected to patients in the blank control group for pain relief according to their complaints. Pain degrees were assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) 12 h before surgery, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery. Blood samples were withdrawn at the same time point. Contents of serum C3 and C4 were determined by immunoturbidimetry.

RESULTSVAS scores of the blank control group were significantly higher after surgery than before surgery (P <0. 01). There was no statistical difference in VAS scores between before surgery and after surgery in the tramadol group and the lappaconitine group (P >0. 05). VAS scores were significantly lower at each post-surgery time point in the tramadol group and the lappaconitine group than in the blank control group with statistical difference (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in VAS scores at each post-surgery time point between the tramadol group and the lappaconitine group (P >0. 05). Compared with before surgery, contents of serum C3 and C4 significantly decreased in all of the three groups at 12, 24, and 48 h after surgery (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). They recovered to the pre-surgery level till 72 h after surgery (P > 0.05). Serum C3 and C4 contents at 48 h after surgery were higher in the tramadol group than in the blank control group (P < 0.05). Serum C3 and C4 contents at 24 and 48 h after surgery were higher in the lappaconitine group than in the blank control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in serum C3 and C4 contents at each time point between the tramadol group and the lappaconitine group (P > 0.05). VAS scores were obviously negatively correlated with serum contents of C3 and C4 (r = -0.622, r = -0.649, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLappaconitine (used at the dose in this study) showed better pain relief effect after surgery. Besides, it could inhibit the surgic wound and pain, and elevate serum contents of C3 and C4.

Aconitine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; methods ; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic ; therapeutic use ; Complement C3 ; metabolism ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Period ; Rectum ; surgery ; Tramadol

This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of alkaloids in Tibetan medicine Bangna(Aconiti Penduli et Aconiti Flavi Radix) on osteoarthritis(OA) rats in vitro and in vivo and the underlying mechanisms. Chondrocytes were isolated from 2-3 week-old male SD rats and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) was used to induce OA in chondrocytes in vitro. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay was used to investigate the toxicity of seven alkaloids(12-epi-napelline, songorine, benzoylaconine, aconitine, 3-acetylaconitine, mesaconitine, and benzoylmesaconine) to chondrocytes. Chondrocytes were classified into the control group, model group(induced by LPS 5 μg·mL~(-1) for 12 h), and administration groups(induced by LPS 5 μg·mL~(-1) for 12 h and incubated for 24 h). The protein expression of inflammatory factors cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthetase(iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in each group were detected by Western blot, and the protein expression of matrix metalloprotease-13(MMP-13), aggrecan, collagen Ⅱ, fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2) by immunofluorescence staining. For the in vivo experiment, sodium iodoacetate was used to induce OA in rats, and the expression of MMP-13, TNF-α, and FGF2 in cartilage tissues of rats in each group was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the viability of chondrocytes could reach more than 90% under the treatment of the seven alkaloids in a certain dose range. Aconitine, 12-epi-napelline, songorine, 3-acetylaconitine, and mesaconitine could decrease the protein expression of inflammatory factors COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α and IL-1β compared with the model group. Moreover, 12-epi-napelline, aconitine, and mesaconitine could down-regulate the expression of MMP-13 and up-regulate the expression of aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ. In addition, compared with the model group and other Bangna alkaloids, 12-epi-napelline significantly up-regulated the expression of FGF2. Therefore, 12-epi-napelline was selected for the animal experiment in vivo. Immunohistochemistry results showed that 12-epi-napelline could significantly reduce the expression of MMP-13 and TNF-α in cartilage tissues, and up-regulate the expression of FGF2 compared with the model group. In conclusion, among the seven Bangna alkaloids, 12-epi-napelline can promote the repair of OA in rats by down-regulating the expression of MMP-13 and TNF-α and up-regulating the expression of FGF2.
Aconitine/therapeutic use* ; Aconitum/chemistry* ; Aggrecans/metabolism* ; Alkaloids/therapeutic use* ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism* ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/therapeutic use* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Iodoacetic Acid/therapeutic use* ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/metabolism* ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Osteoarthritis/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

Patients who overdose on aconite can present with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. Aconite must be prepared and used with caution to avoid cardiotoxic effects that can be fatal. We herein describe a case of a patient who had an accidental aconite overdose but survived with no lasting effects. The patient had prepared Chinese herbal medication to treat his pain, which resulted in an accidental overdose of aconite with cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects. The patient had ventricular tachycardia, bidirectional ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Following treatment with anti-arrhythmic medications, defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, he made an uneventful recovery, with no further cardiac arrhythmias reported.
Aconitine ; poisoning ; Adult ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Cardiotoxicity ; Drug Overdose ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; poisoning ; Electric Countershock ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Tachycardia ; chemically induced ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; chemically induced ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; chemically induced

AIMTo study the effect of modified starfish sterol [C03, succinic acid (5-epiandroene-17-one-3beta-ol) diester] on experimental arrhythmias.

METHODSArrhythmias were induced by drugs (Aco, Oua, BaCl2 and adrenalin) i.v., ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery and electricity.

RESULTSC03 71.4 mg x kg(-1) (ig) was shown to increase the dose of Oua inducing VP, VT, VF and CA in guinea pigs (P < 0.01); C03 (26.8, 80.4 mg x kg(-1)) was found to increase the dose of Aco inducing VF and CA in rats (P < 0.01); C03 (8.9, 26.8, 80.4 mg x kg(-1)) increase the dose of barium chloride and delay the onset time of ventricular arrhythmias (P < 0.01); C03 (14.1, 42.3 mg x kg(-10) shorten time of recovering induced by adrenalin in rabbits (P < 0.01); C03 (80.4 mg x kg(-1)) was shown to reduce the number of ventricular arrhythmias induced by coronary artery ligation in rats (P < 0.05), C03 increase VFT induced by electricity in rabbits, VFT of C03 14.1 mg x kg(-1) increased from (5.1 +/- 2.5) V to (11.0 +/- 2.7) V (P < 0.01), 42.3 mg x kg(-1) increased from (6.1 +/- 1.7) V to (15 +/- 5) V (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONStarfish sterol has anti-arrhythmic effect.

Aconitine ; Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Barium Compounds ; Cats ; Chlorides ; Epinephrine ; Guinea Pigs ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Mice ; Ouabain ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Starfish ; chemistry ; Sterols ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Daidzein on Antiarrhythmia.

METHODThe conventional antiarrhythmia methods were used.

RESULTDaidzein was remarkedly effective in preventing ventricular fibrillation induced by chloroform in mice and arrhythmia induced by aconitine in rats. The arrhythmia induced by adrenalin in rabbits was antagonized by Daidzein and it could obviously inhibit the action potential amplitude of isolated sciatic nerves in toads. And it could also prevent ventricular fibrillation induced by calcium chloride in rats, and obviously reduce the death rate of rats. Its anti-arrhythmic effect was dose-dependent.

CONCLUSIONDaidzein has obvious protective effect on drug-induced arrhythmia, which may be related to its inhibition of Na+ or Ca2+ influx and its blocking beta-adrenergic receptor.

Aconitine ; Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Bufo bufo ; Calcium Chloride ; Chloroform ; Epinephrine ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; chemically induced ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Shenfu injection (SFI) and influence on T-lymphocyte subset, serum level of interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha), interleukin-2(IL-2) in patients with chronic aplastic anemia (CAA) based on treating with stanozol and cyclosporin A.

METHOD60 patients with CAA were randomly divided into two groups, 30 patients in the SFI group were treated with SFI (100 mL which contains Ginsenoside 0.8 mg x mL(-1) and aconitine 1.8 microg x mL(-1) by adding it in 500 mL of 5% glucose every day) plus stanozol and cyclosporin A and 30 patients in the control group treated with slanozol and cyclosporin A alone for 2 months. The clinical efficacy was observed. The change of T-lymphocyte subset analyzed by flow cytometry and the levels of serum IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-2 measured with ELISA method were also observed before and after treatment.

RESULTAfter treatment, the total effective rate of the SFI group was higher than that in the control group, but it did not showing significant difference. The CD4/CD8 levels were significantly increased (1.76+/-0.49, P< 0.01) and CD8 levels were significantly lowered (22.57+/-6.30, P < 0.01) in the SFI group after treatment. Serum levels of lFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-2 were lower in both groups, and the level of TNF-alpha and IL-2 in the SFI group (0.710+/-0.213) ng x L(-1) and (0.639+/-0.247) ng x L(-1) was significantly lowered than that in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSFI might believe the hemopoietic inhibition so as to promote the recovery of hemopoietic function through improving the T-lymphocyte subset and reducing the release of hemopoietic negative regulatory factors such as IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-2.

Aconitine ; administration & dosage ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Kidney Diseases ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Stanozolol ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology