Aconitum species

• Many species of the genus Aconitum viz., Aconitum ferox Wall., Aconitum napellus Linn., and Aconitum chasmanthum Holmes ex. Stapf. are known under the common name “Vatsanābha” in Sanskrit and “Aconite”in English.

• The roots of all the three plants are extremely poisonous but useful in the treatment of various diseases such as fever, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, hypertension, and acts as “rasāyana” (immunomodulators) after their detoxification.

• Most of the alkaloids present in the root of Aconitum species at higher doses are reported to have cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects. Severe Aconite poisoning results mainly due to the accidental ingestion of wild plant or excess consumption of herbal decoction made from the Aconite roots.

• Isolated compound (Aconite) from Vatsanābha at a dose of 2 mg can cause death, while 1 g of Vatsanābha is fatal for human being.

• The root of Vatsanābha was used as poison for hunting animals in ancient times by tribals.

• Overdosing of traditional Ayurvedic formulations of Vatsanābha may cause hypotension, bradycardia or bidirectional tachycardia.

• Due to such reasons, the therapeutic dose of Vatsanābha mentioned in Ayurvedic system of medicine is 8 mg to 16 mg/day.

Purification process of aconite

• Its purification process includes svedana (boiling) in dola yantra using Godugdha for 3 h daily for three continuous days, followed by washing with water thrice and drying under sun light.

• After Śodhana process, the total alkaloid content decreases,but the contents of less toxic substances such as aconine, hypoaconine, and benzylhypoaconine increases possibly due to conversion of the toxic aconitine into aconine or hydrolysis of the alkaloids to their respective amino alcohols after Śodhana process.

• In another study, it has been reported that the purified form of A. carmichaeli produces cholinergic stimulation which prevents the cold‑stress‑induced hypothermia and immuno–suppression.[18]

• Moreover, the unpurified root of A. napellus has been reported to cause a significant rise in heart rate and changes in electrocardiogram as compared to purified Aconite.

• It has been reported that Gomūtra (Cow Urine) converts Aconite to a compound with cardiac stimulant property, whereas, raw Aconite showed cardiac depressant properties.

• Śodhana by both Gomūtra and Godugdha makes Aconite devoid of cardiac and neuro–muscular toxic effects without affecting its antipyretic activity.

• A. chasmanthum is another species which is well known for its cardiac and neuro‑toxicity.

• According to Sarkar et al.[35] A. chasmanthum showed toxic effects, which leads to the impairment in kidney and liver functions. Śodhana with Gomūtra reduces the toxic effects of Aconite significantly.

• In vivo and in vitro studies on frog heart showed that A. ferox has potential effect to depress the heart rate by its positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects and these effects may be mediated through cholinergic stimulation or by direct action on the heart muscle.

References

1. Ffrench G. Aconitine‑induced cardiac arrhythmia. Br Heart J 1958;20:140‑2.

2. Makino T, Kato K, Mizukami H. Processed aconite root prevents cold‑stress‑induced hypothermia and immuno‑suppression in mice. Biol Pharm Bull 2009;32:1741‑8.

3. Rastogi S. A review of aconite (Vatsanabha) usage in Ayurvedic formulations: Traditional views and their references. Spatula DD 2011;1:233‑44.

4. Singh S, Fadnis PP, Sharma BK. Aconite poisoning. J Assoc Physicians India 1986;34:825‑6.

5. Chan TY. Aconite poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2009;47:279‑85.

6. Panda AK, Debnath SK. Overdose effect of aconite containing Ayurvedic Medicine (‘Mahashankha Vati’). Int J Ayurveda Res 2010;1:183‑6.

7. Shyaula SL. Phytochemicals, traditional uses and processing of Aconitum species in Nepal. Nepal J Sci Technol 2011;12:171‑78.

8. Tai YT, Lau CP, But PP, Fong PC, Li JP. Bidirectional tachycardiainduced by herbal aconite poisoning. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 1992;15:831‑9.

9. Rastogi S, Ranjana SR. Adverse effects of Ayurvedic drugs: An overview of causes and possibilities in reference to a case of Vatsanabha (Aconite) overdosing. Int J Risk Saf Med 2007;19:117‑25.

10. Sastri A. Vagbhattacharya: Rasaratna Samuchchaya. 6th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Series Office; 1978. p. 590.

11. Sarkar PK, Prajapati PK. Dispense with Ayurvedic samskara: Shodhana of aconite. Indian Drugs 2011;48:31‑44.

12. Shastri K. Sadananda Sharma: Rasa Tarangini. 11th ed. New Delhi: Motilal Banarasidas; 2012. p. 651‑52.

13. Singh LB. Poisonous (Visa) Plants in Ayurveda. 2nd ed. Varansai: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Bhawan; 2003.

14. Deore SL, Moon KV, Khadabadi SS, Deokate UA, Baviskar BA. Evaluation of toxicity of ‘Vatsanabha’ (Aconitum ferox, Ranunculaceae) Before and After Shodhana. J Young Pharm 2013;5:3‑6.

15. Handa KL, Chopra IC, Kohli JD, Singh K. Mitigation of aconite; a preliminary note. Indian J Med Res 951;39:89‑98.

16. Parikh KM, Doshi VJ, Salunkhe UB, Dhanvate AA. Authentication of detoxification process used in traditional Indian medicine. Int Hortic Soc Acta Hortic 1996;426:57‑4.

17. Paul A. Effects of Avurvedic shodhana (processing) on dried tuberous Aconite (Aconitum napellus Linn.) root. Indones J Pharm 2013;24:40‑6.

18. Tai YT, But PP, Young K, Lau CP. Cardiotoxicity after accidental herb‑induced aconite poisoning. Lancet 1992;340:1254‑6.

19. Sarkar PK, Prajapati PK, Shukla VJ, Ravishankar B. Effect of shodhana treatment on chronic toxicity and recovery of aconite. Toxicol Int 2012;19:35‑41.

20. Sahoo S, Swain TR, Dash NC. Study on the pharmacological profile of purified Aconitum ferox extracts in Frog. Int J Res Pharm Biomed Sci 2013;4:746‑53.