Studies on botanical characteristics and determination of Nomenclature of Aconitum in Sa Pa (Lao Cai province). 40 specimens of flowers and fruit stored in Specimen Museum, Institute of Medicinal Materials and Department of Botanical Medicine, Hanoi College of Pharmacy were collected from September to October 2003. This is a herbaceous perennial plant that has main root, simple leaf, and alternate sprout in the body, screw shape. The flowers grow in raceme, small peduncle, 2 small leaves, hermaphrodite and symmetrical flowers. Calyx has petal shape, blue purple color: 2 inferior calyx leaves, narrow tapering shape; 2 side calyx leaves, nearly round; superior calyx leaf has curved shape. It has many stamens; anther is round to elliptic shape; carpel 5; short stamen sprout, durable. Aconitum specimen collected in Sa Pa belonged to Aconitum L. genus, and the Aconitum trees which were planted in Sa Pa has nomenclature is Aconitum carmichaelii Debx, or Aconitum carmichaelli Debx. var. carmichaelli, Ranunculaceae. In addition, results also confirm that the Aconitum specimen which was formerly collected in Sa Pa province, stored in Institute of Medicinal Materials also belonged to above species, it was not A.fortunei Hemsi species
Terminology ; Aconitum

Study on processing methods of Radix Aconiti carmichaelii lateralis collected at Sa Pa from August 2003 to September 2003. Results: processing method of Radix Aconiti carmichaelii lateralis included these steps: Radix Aconiti were soaked in the MgCl2 and NaCl solutions, boiled, sliced, and dried. Studied samples all contained alcaloid, alcaloid of processed Radix Aconiti had maximum absorbing of ultraviolet spectrum in wavelength of 231nm and 274nm. This analysis could be used for quantitative study. The contents of total alcaloids of processed Radix Aconiti carmichaelii lateralis and diester alcaloids were 0.14-0.17% and 0.017-0.025%, respectively. The product increased amplitude of frog heart beat clearly at concentrations of 20 and 40g/l, but didn’t cause arrhythmia
Aconitum ; Plants, medicinal

Chemical compositions were determined by qualitative reactions, the results showed that Radix Aconiti carmichaelii lateralis in Sa Pa containing total alkaloids, diesteralkaloid, lipid, carotenoid, sterol, cumarine, organic acids, free sugars and amino acids. Alkaloid in Radix Aconiti carmichaelii lateralis in Sa Pa was maximum absorbed at wavelength of 231nm. The content of total alkaloid didn’t fluctuate much: from 1.15% (in July) to 1.21% (in August, October), similar to Radix Aconiti carmichaelii lateralis in China. The content of diesteralkaloid of Radix Aconiti carmichaelii lateralis in Sa Pa fluctuated much: from 0.21% (in July) to 0.34% (in October), higher than Radix Aconiti carmichaelii lateralis in China. It is necessary to identify gathering time with high productivity, to establish standards for Radix Aconiti carmichaelii lateralis, processed Radix Aconiti carmichaelii lateralis and to define the content of total alkaloid, diesteralkaloid
Aconitum ; Alkaloids ; Chemistry

Aconitum ; anatomy & histology

Method of proceping and preparation of Aconitum carmichacli. Its effect on mouse’s isolated heart and acute toxicity extract. Radix Aconitum carmichacli colected in Sapa was processed by traditional method (Hai Thuong Lan Ong method and liquid extract method). Total alcoloid content and aconitive content were reduced. The product processed by various methods give different activities of cardiotonic. Concerning the acute toxicity, no mouse died with oral maximal dose of 327,27g of radix Aconitum per kilograme body weight
Animal Experimentation ; Rabbits ; Heart ; Aconitum

No abstract available.
Aconitum* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation*

No abstract available.
Aconitum ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

The enzymes CYP1 A2 and CYP3 A4 were measured by building a "Cocktail" probe drug and the incubation system of liver microsomes. The compatibility of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata combined with dried Rehmanniae Radix on CYP450 enzyme protein and gene expression was explored from the level of protein and molecular biology. It explored the molecular mechanism of compatibility detoxication of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata to provide scientific support for clinical safe and effective application of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata. The CYP450 enzyme activity was determined by using "Cocktail" probe drugs. The content of CYP450 enzyme was measured by CO reduction of differential spectrum method. The mRNA expression of CYP1 A2 and CYP3 A4 enzyme was detected by RT-PCR technology. Compared with the blank group, the CYP1 A2 and CYP3 A4 enzyme activity and mRNA expression were increased in the dried Rehmanniae Radix combined with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group with significant differences(P<0.05), while the CYP3 A4 enzyme activity and mRNA expression were no influence in the Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group. The CYP3 A4 enzyme activity and mRNA expression were increased in the dried Rehmanniae Radix and the dried Rehmanniae Radix combined with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group, and there were significant differences(P<0.05). The content of CYP450 enzyme was decreased in the Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group, contributed to extremely significant difference(P<0.01). The content of CYP450 enzyme was increased in the dried Rehmanniae Radix and the dried Rehmanniae Radix combined with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group, and there were significant differences(P<0.05). The CYP1 A2 and CYP3 A4 enzyme activity and gene expression were enhanced after dried Rehmanniae Radix combined with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata. The metabolism of toxic ingredients of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata was accelerated to reach an effect of detoxication. The detoxication mechanism of compatibility of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata was verified from the viewpoint of liver metabolic enzymes.
Aconitum ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Liver

Studies in animals indicate that aconitine or aconite has toxic effects in the visual system of a rabbit model. Such a toxic effects causes myelo-optic neuropathy in the visually evoked cortical potential(VECP) and histopathologic studies. Whether the administration of intravenous high-dose of methyprednisolone(MP) in the myelo-optic neuropathy caused by aconitine(1.5ml/kg, equivalent to 0.7mg/kg of aconitine) is experimentally effective remains uncertain. The group treated with MP(daily 30mg/kg X 2 for 3 days followed by 15mg/kg for 3 days) in addition to aconite was compared with the aconite alone group and the normal control group. In the MP treated group, increased recovery of onset latency, peak latency, and amplitude in VECP in comparision with the aconite alone group was recorded at 2 weeks (p<0.05). The MP treated group in comparision with the normal control group showed a significant delay in onset latency at 1 month and 2 months(p<0.05). But, the amplitude in both the MP treated group and the aconite alone group increased at 2 months and did not show a significant difference in comparision with the normal group(p<0.05). In histopathologic study, pathologic findings of myelin sheath in the MP treated group were less severe than in the aconite alone group generally. The true benefit of high-dose MP was at least clear within 2 weeks. The authors conclude that treatment with intravenous high-dose MP immediate after aconite injection may have some beneficial effects in recovery of neurologic function although such a treatment do not have the definite recovery in aconite induced myelo-optic neuropathy.
Aconitine ; Aconitum* ; Animals ; Methylprednisolone* ; Myelin Sheath

Heat-treated and detoxified Aconite tuber has many useful properties such as analgesic, diuretic, and cardiotonic effects. Two hundred forty-seven patients were treated with Aconite Tuber powder (1.5 - 8.0g/day) added to Kampo extract granules. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used for the assessment of its pain-relieving effect. One hundred two patients improved dramatically (the pre/post administration VAS ratio was less than 50%), 84 improved (between 51 to 75%), and61did not improved (more than 76%). Three patients(1.2%) showed adverse reactions, such as tongue numbness, squeezing sensation of the bladder, anasarca. These reactions were not serious. This study suggests that Aconite tuber powder can be used more widely, especially for arthralgia and somatic pain with coldness in elderly patients.
Aconitum ; Powders ; Pain ; Cerebellar tuber ; Arthralgia