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