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Huang R, Pang Q, Zheng L, Duan R, Wang Y, Wang Z, Wang T. Acute aconitine poisoning resulting from the ingestion of medicinal liquor. J Forensic Sci 2024. [PMID: 39233350 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Diester diterpenoid alkaloids (DDAs) are the main active ingredients of herbaceous perennial plants Aconitum. DDAs possess cardiotoxic and neurotoxic properties. Although most deaths caused by DDA poisoning are accidental, a few instances of suicide and homicide have been reported. Presented is a case of an acute aconitine (AC) poisoning following the ingestion of approximately 50 mL of homemade medicinal liquor. We described the clinical manifestations after poisoning and detailed postmortem changes, and detected the concentrations of AC and hypaconitine (HA) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The decedent experienced a burning sensation in the gastrointestinal tract after poisoning, followed by flushing and paralysis of the face and limbs, and severe cardiac arrhythmia. An autopsy revealed cyanosis of the lips and nail beds; conjunctival hemorrhage in both eyes; pulmonary edema; tissue hemorrhage and congestion in multiple organs; and inflammatory cell infiltration in the stomach, duodenum, pancreas, and cardiac muscle. The concentrations of AC and HA were as follows: cardiac blood, 38.4 ng/mL and 7.1 ng/mL; pericardial fluid, 7.3 ng/mL and 41 ng/mL; urine, 28.1 ng/mL and 574 ng/mL; bile, 38.5 ng/mL and 108 ng/mL; gastric contents, 0.06 mg and 0.56 mg; liver tissue, 10.7 ng/g and 109.6 ng/g; and medicinal liquor, 0.568 mg/mL and 0.664 mg/mL, respectively. The clinical manifestations, anatomy findings, and quantitative data on the concentrations of AC and HA in body fluids and tissues will aid forensic investigations of deaths caused by acute AC poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Huang
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Judicial Appraisal Center, School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Suzhou Medicine College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qiuyu Pang
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Judicial Appraisal Center, School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Suzhou Medicine College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lexin Zheng
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Judicial Appraisal Center, School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Suzhou Medicine College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Rui Duan
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Judicial Appraisal Center, School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Suzhou Medicine College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Judicial Appraisal Center, School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Suzhou Medicine College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhiyong Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Judicial Appraisal Center, School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Suzhou Medicine College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Judicial Appraisal Center, School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Suzhou Medicine College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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2
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An insight into current advances on pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and detoxification of aconitine. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 151:113115. [PMID: 35605296 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aconitine is a diterpenoid alkaloid, which mainly exists in the plants of Aconitum. In the last decade, a plethora of studies on the pharmacological activities of aconitine has been conducted and demonstrated that aconitine possessed an extensive range of pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, local anesthesia, and immunomodulatory effects. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that aconitine may have the characteristics of poor bioavailability, wide distribution, and slow elimination. However, studies have also found that aconitine has toxic effects on the heart, nerves, embryos, etc. Therefore, we believe that aconitine may not be suitable for heart patients and pregnant women to treat related diseases. It is important to note that all of these pharmacological effects require further high-quality studies to determine the clinical efficacy of aconitine. This review aims to summarize the advances in pharmacological, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and detoxification of aconitine in the last decade with an emphasis on its anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory activities, to provide researchers with the latest information and point out the limitations of relevant research at the current stage and the aspects that should be strengthened in future research.
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3
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Risk compounds, potential mechanisms and biomarkers of Traditional Chinese medicine‐induced reproductive toxicity. J Appl Toxicol 2022; 42:1734-1756. [DOI: 10.1002/jat.4290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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4
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Song YS, Dai MZ, Zhu CX, Huang YF, Liu J, Zhang CD, Xie F, Peng Y, Zhang Y, Li CQ, Zhang LJ. Validation, Optimization, and Application of the Zebrafish Developmental Toxicity Assay for Pharmaceuticals Under the ICH S5(R3) Guideline. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:721130. [PMID: 34595173 PMCID: PMC8476914 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.721130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish as an alternative animal model for developmental toxicity testing has been extensively investigated, but its assay protocol was not harmonized yet. This study has validated and optimized the zebrafish developmental toxicity assay previously reported by multiple inter-laboratory studies in the United States and Europe. In this study, using this classical protocol, of 31 ICH-positive compounds, 23 compounds (74.2%) were teratogenic in zebrafish, five had false-negative results, and three were neither teratogenic nor non-teratogenic according to the protocol standard; of 14 ICH-negative compounds, 12 compounds (85.7%) were non-teratogenic in zebrafish and two had false-positive results. After we added an additional TI value in the zebrafish treated with testing compounds at 2 dpf along with the original 5 dpf, proposed a new category as the uncategorized compounds for those TI values smaller than the cutoff both at 2 dpf and 5 dpf but inducing toxic phenotypes, refined the testing concentration ranges, and optimized the TI cut-off value from ≥ 10 to ≥ 3 for compounds with refined testing concentrations, this optimized zebrafish developmental assay reached 90.3% sensitivity (28/31 positive compounds were teratogenic in zebrafish) and 88.9% (40/45) overall predictability. Our results from this study strongly support the use of zebrafish as an alternative in vivo method for screening and assessing the teratogenicity of candidate drugs for regulatory acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Sheng Song
- Center of Safety Evaluation and Research, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Chen-Xia Zhu
- Center of Safety Evaluation and Research, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Jing Liu
- Center of Safety Evaluation and Research, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China
| | - Cheng-Da Zhang
- Center of Safety Evaluation and Research, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Xie
- Center of Safety Evaluation and Research, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Peng
- Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Hangzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China.,Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Hangzhou, China
| | - Chun-Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China.,Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Hangzhou, China
| | - Li-Jiang Zhang
- Center of Safety Evaluation and Research, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Drug Safety Evaluation and Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
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5
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Chan YT, Wang N, Feng Y. The toxicology and detoxification of Aconitum: traditional and modern views. Chin Med 2021; 16:61. [PMID: 34315520 PMCID: PMC8314510 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-021-00472-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Aconitum carmichaeli Debx.-derived herbal medicine has been used for anti-inflammation and anti-arrhythmia purpose for more than two thousand years. It is processed into Chuanwu (Radix Aconiti praeparata) and Fuzi (Radix Aconiti lateralis praeparata) in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which are two useful drugs but with toxic properties. There have been patients poisoned by accidental ingestion of Aconitum plants or misuse of the herbal drug, and this is of great concern to study in-depth. In this review, we provided the traditional and contemporary practice of using Aconitum herbs as medicine, from functions, processing methods to toxicity in ethnomedicine aspects to discuss the underlying connections of traditional and modern understanding on the toxicity of Aconitum plants. We summarized the functions and toxicology of the herbal drugs are analyzed from chemical and clinical aspects, with the help of traditional and modern knowledge of medicine. The medicinal doses and lethal doses determined by researches are summarized, and the usage and processing methods are updated and reviewed in the modern view. In addition, clinical management of poisoned cases using western medicine is discussed. This review provides insights and awareness of safety when using Aconitum-derived herbal medicine, and the application of modern scientific knowledge to optimize the detoxification processes. We suggest the possibility to renew the current standard processing method from the official Pharmacopoeia all over the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yau-Tuen Chan
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ning Wang
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Yibin Feng
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Zhang K, Liu Y, Lin X, Yang J, Wu C. Assessment of reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata and its processed products in male mice. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 275:114102. [PMID: 33831471 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Chinese name: Fuzi), the root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx., is a representative medicine for restoring yang and rescuing patient from collapse. However, less studies had been reported on the reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity of Fuzi. According to the principle of reducing toxicity and preserving efficiency, only processed products of Fuzi are commonly applied in clinic, including Baifupian, Heishunpian and Danfupian. However, whether processing could alleviate the reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity of Fuzi had not been revealed. AIM OF THE STUDY To assess the effect and possible mechanism of Fuzi and its processed products on reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity in male mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Aqueous extracts of Fuzi and its processed products (Baifupian, Heishunpian and Danfupian, 5.85 g/kg) were administrated by gavage once daily for fourteen consecutive days. The reproductive toxicity was evaluated by testis weight, testis ratio, testis histopathology, sperm count, sperm viability rate and sperm deformity rate. The genotoxicity was evaluated by comet assay and micronucleus test in sperm, peripheral blood cell and bone marrow cell. Possible mechanisms of attenuating toxicity by processing were analyzed by detecting the level of testosterone, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT). RESULTS Fuzi significantly caused different degrees of reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity, specifically reducing the weight and testicular coefficient of testis, causing obvious pathological changes in testicular tissue, reducing sperm count and sperm viability rate, increasing sperm deformity rate and DNA damage in sperm/peripheral blood cells/bone marrow cells. Moreover, Fuzi decreased the level of testosterone, SOD, GSH and CAT, while increased the level of MDA in serum. Notably, the reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity induced by the processed products, especially Heishunpian and Danfupian, were significantly lowered compared to Fuzi. Processing could increase the level of testosterone, SOD, GSH, CAT and decrease the level of MDA compared to Fuzi. CONCLUSION Fuzi and its processed products had reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity, but the toxicity of processed products was significantly weakened compared to Fuzi. The protective mechanism of processing to reduce the toxicity of Fuzi might be related to increasing the level of testosterone and decreasing oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Yeshu Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Xin Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Jingyu Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, PR China.
| | - Chunfu Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 110016, Shenyang, PR China.
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7
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Yang L, Chen Y, Zhou J, Sun J, Jiang W, Liu T, Rao C, Pan X. Aconitine induces mitochondrial energy metabolism dysfunction through inhibition of AMPK signaling and interference with mitochondrial dynamics in SH-SY5Y cells. Toxicol Lett 2021; 347:36-44. [PMID: 33945864 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2021.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Aconitine, a highly toxic alkaloid derived from Aconitum L., affects the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. However, the underlying mechanism of aconitine-induced neurotoxicity remains unclear. This study investigates the effects and mechanism of aconitine on mitochondrial energy metabolism in SH-SY5Y cells. Results demonstrated that aconitine exposure suppressed cell proliferation and led to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and excessive lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Aconitine (400 μmol/L) induced abnormal mitochondrial energy metabolism that quantified by the significant decrease in ATP production, basal respiration, proton leak, maximal respiration, and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity. Phosphorylation of AMPK was significantly reduced in aconitine-treated SH-SY5Y cells. The AMPK activator AIACR pretreatment effectively promoted ATP production to ameliorate mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder caused by aconitine. Mitochondrial biosynthesis was inhibited after treatment with 400 μmol/L aconitine, which was characterized by mitochondria number, TFAM expression, and mtDNA copy number. Moreover, aconitine prompted the down-regulation of mitochondrial fusion proteins OPA1, Mfn1 and Mfn2, and the up-regulation of mitochondrial fission proteins p-Drp1 and p-Mff. These results suggest that aconitine induces mitochondrial energy metabolism dysfunction in SH-SY5Y cells, which may involve the inhibition of AMPK signaling and abnormal mitochondrial dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Yang
- School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yan Chen
- School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jiayi Sun
- Innovation Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Wanyanhan Jiang
- School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Tianyu Liu
- School of Sport, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Chaolong Rao
- School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China; R&D Center for Efficiency, Safety and Application in Chinese Materia Medica with Medical and Edible Values, School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
| | - Xiaoqi Pan
- School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
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8
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Xia Q, Gao S, Rapael Gnanamuthu SR, Zhuang K, Song Z, Zhang Y, Wang X, Tu P, Li J, Liu K. Involvement of Nrf2-HO-1/JNK-Erk Signaling Pathways in Aconitine-Induced Developmental Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, and ROS-Mitochondrial Apoptosis in Zebrafish Embryos. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:642480. [PMID: 33967776 PMCID: PMC8097150 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.642480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aconitine (AC), one of the bioactive diterpenoid alkaloids extracted from Aconitum plants, is widely used in traditional herbal medicine to treat various diseases. Emerging evidence indicates that AC has attracted great interest for its wide cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. However, the toxic effects of AC on embryonic development and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, a developmental toxicity assay of AC was performed on zebrafish embryos from 4 to 96 h post fertilization (hpf), and its underlying mechanisms were discussed. AC exposure impaired the cardiac, liver, and neurodevelopment. Especially, a high dose of AC (7.27 and 8.23 μM) exposure resulted in malformations at 72 and 96 hpf, including reduced body length, curved body shape, pericardial edema, yolk retention, swim bladder and brain developmental deficiency, and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. High-concentration AC exposure caused a deficient cardiovascular system with cardiac dysfunctions, increased heart rates at 72 and 96 hpf, and reduced locomotor behavior at 120 hpf. AC treatment significantly increased the ROS level and triggered cell apoptosis in the heart and brain regions of embryos at 96 hpf in 7.27 and 8.23 μM AC treatment zebrafish. Oxidative stress was confirmed by reduced levels of T-SOD activity associated with accumulation of lipid peroxidation in larvae. The expression levels of oxidative stress-related genes (Nrf2, HO-1, Cat, and Sod-1) Erk1/2 and Bcl-2 were significantly downregulated at 96 hpf. The expression pattern of JNK and mitochondrial apoptosis-related genes (Bad, Bax, Cyto C, Casp-9, and Casp-3) was significantly upregulated. Taken together, all these parameters collectively provide the first evidence of AC-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryo/larvae through ROS-medicated mitochondrial apoptosis involving Nrf2/HO-1 and JNK/Erk pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Xia
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Biological Testing Technology, Jinan, China
| | - Shuo Gao
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,School of Pharmacy, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Samuel Rajendran Rapael Gnanamuthu
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Biological Testing Technology, Jinan, China
| | - Kaiyan Zhuang
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Biological Testing Technology, Jinan, China
| | - Zhenzhen Song
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Jinan, China.,School of Pharmacy, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Biological Testing Technology, Jinan, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Biological Testing Technology, Jinan, China
| | - Pengfei Tu
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Jinan, China.,State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianheng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Kechun Liu
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Biological Testing Technology, Jinan, China
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9
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Wang Y, Shan Y, Wang Y, Fang Y, Huang T, Wang S, Zhu Q, Li X, Ge RS. Aconitine inhibits androgen synthesis enzymes by rat immature Leydig cells via down-regulating androgen synthetic enzyme expression in vitro. Chem Biol Interact 2019; 312:108817. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.108817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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10
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He Y, Wang Z, Wu W, Xie Y, Wei Z, Yi X, Zeng Y, Li Y, Liu C. Identification of key transporters mediating uptake of aconitum alkaloids into the liver and kidneys and the potential mechanism of detoxification by active ingredients of liquorice. RSC Adv 2019; 9:16136-16146. [PMID: 35521419 PMCID: PMC9064382 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra00393b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aconite as a commonly used herb has been extensively applied in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, as pain relief, as well as for its cardiotonic actions. Aconitum alkaloids have been shown to be the most potent ingredients in aconite, in terms of efficacy against disease, but they are also highly toxic. Apart from neurological and cardiovascular toxicity exposed, the damage to hepatocytes and nephrocytes with long-term use of aconitum alkaloids should also be carefully considered. This study attempted to investigate the critical role of uptake transporters mediating the transport of aconitum alkaloids into the liver and the kidneys. The resulting data revealed that hOATP1B1, 1B3, hOCT1 and hOAT3 were mainly involved in the uptake of aconitum alkaloids. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of bioactive ingredients of liquorice on uptake transporters were screened and further confirmed by determining the IC50 values. The in vitro study suggested that liquorice might lower the toxicity of aconite by reducing its exposure in the liver and/or kidneys through inhibition of uptake transporters. Eventually, the in vivo study was indicative of detoxification of liquorice by decreasing the exposure of aconitine as representative compound in liver after co-administration, even though the exposure in kidney altered was less significant. In summary, hOATP1B1, 1B3, hOCT1 and hOCT3 were determined as the key uptake transporters mediating the transport process of aconitum alkaloids into the liver and/or kidneys, and liquorice may alleviate the toxicity caused by reduction of exposure through inhibition of those key uptake transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei He
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University No. 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District Shenyang City Liaoning Province China +86-22-23006860 +86-22-23006860
| | - Ze Wang
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine China
| | - Weidang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technologies and Pharmacokinetics, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research 308, Anshan West Road, Nankai Tianjin China
| | - Ying Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology Macau SAR China
| | - Zihong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technologies and Pharmacokinetics, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research 308, Anshan West Road, Nankai Tianjin China
| | - Xiulin Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technologies and Pharmacokinetics, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research 308, Anshan West Road, Nankai Tianjin China
| | - Yong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technologies and Pharmacokinetics, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research 308, Anshan West Road, Nankai Tianjin China
| | - Yazhuo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technologies and Pharmacokinetics, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research 308, Anshan West Road, Nankai Tianjin China
| | - Changxiao Liu
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University No. 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District Shenyang City Liaoning Province China +86-22-23006860 +86-22-23006860
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technologies and Pharmacokinetics, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research 308, Anshan West Road, Nankai Tianjin China
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11
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Gao X, Hu J, Zhang X, Zuo Y, Wang Y, Zhu S. Research progress of aconitine toxicity and forensic analysis of aconitine poisoning. Forensic Sci Res 2018; 5:25-31. [PMID: 32490307 PMCID: PMC7241456 DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2018.1452346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chinese herbal medicines have been extensively used in China and other countries for centuries. Aconitine, a diterpenoid alkaloid extracted from Aconitum plants, has anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, but can also induce severe arrhythmia and neurotoxicity. Aconitine poisoning accidents caused by misuse, suicide, or homicide have been reported in recent years. In China, fatal aconitine poisoning can occasionally happen on account of accidental ingestion of some wild plants or consumption of herbal decoction made from the roots of Aconitum plants. However, it is rather difficult for forensic experts to find the specific results in present forensic autopsy of aconitine-induced death. To further clarify its potential risk following the widespread application of aconitine, toxicological characteristics and pharmacokinetics of aconitine are reviewed. Moreover, gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiovascular symptoms were observed frequently in aconitine poisoning cases. In addition, the review also aims at providing some convincing evidences for forensic experts to identify unexplained death with postmortem examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangting Gao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jun Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Laboratory of Biomedical Technology, Jiangsu Vocational College of Medicine, Yancheng, China
| | - Xincai Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yuanyi Zuo
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Forensic Sciences, Binhai People's Hospital, Yancheng, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shaohua Zhu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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12
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Sun B, Wang X, Cao R, Zhang Q, Liu Q, Xu M, Zhang M, Du X, Dong F, Yan X. NMR-based metabonomics study on the effect of Gancao in the attenuation of toxicity in rats induced by Fuzi. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 193:617-626. [PMID: 27746335 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.10.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Fuzi, the processed lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux, is a traditional Chinese medicine used for its analgesic, antipyretic, anti-rheumatoid arthritis and anti-inflammation effects; however, it is also well known for its toxicity. Gancao, the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., is often used concurrently with Fuzi to alleviate its toxicity. However, the mechanism of detoxication is still not well clear. AIM OF THE STUDY In this study, the effect of Gancao on the metabolic changes induced by Fuzi was investigated by NMR-based metabonomic approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (group A: control, group B: Fuzi decoction alone, group C: Gancao decoction alone, group D: Fuzi decoction and Gancao decoction simultaneously, group E: Fuzi decoction 5h after Gancao decoction) and urine samples were collected for NMR-based metabolic profiling analysis. Statistical analyses such as unsupervised PCA, t-test, hierarchical cluster, and pathway analysis were used to detect the effects of Gancao on the metabolic changes induced by Fuzi. RESULTS The behavioral and biochemical characteristics showed that Fuzi exhibited toxic effects on treated rats (group B) and statistical analyses showed that their metabolic profiles were in contrast to those in groups A and C. However, when Fuzi was administered with Gancao, the metabolic profiles became similar to controls, whereby Gancao reduced the levels of trimethylamine N-oxide, betaine, dimethylglycine, valine, acetoacetate, citrate, fumarate, 2-ketoglutarate and hippurate, and regulated the concentrations of taurine and 3-hydroxybutyrate, resulting in a decrease in toxicity. Furthermore, important pathways that are known to be involved in the effect of Gancao on Fuzi, including phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, the synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, and the TCA cycle, were altered in co-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS Gancao treatment mitigated the metabolic changes altered by Fuzi administration in rats, demonstrating that dosing with Gancao could reduce the toxicity of Fuzi at the metabolic level. Fuzi and Gancao administered simultaneously resulted in improved toxicity reduction than when Gancao was administrated 5h prior to Fuzi. In summary, co-administration of Gancao with Fuzi reduces toxicity at the metabolic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Sun
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing 100850, PR China.
| | - Xubin Wang
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing 100850, PR China.
| | - Ruili Cao
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing 100850, PR China.
| | - Qi Zhang
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing 100850, PR China.
| | - Qiao Liu
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing 100850, PR China; Chenzhou First People's Hospital, Chenzhou 423000, PR China.
| | - Meifeng Xu
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing 100850, PR China.
| | - Ming Zhang
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing 100850, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Shengyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China.
| | - Xiangbo Du
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing 100850, PR China.
| | - Fangting Dong
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing 100850, PR China.
| | - Xianzhong Yan
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing 100850, PR China.
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Bioactive heterocyclic alkaloids with diterpene structure isolated from traditional Chinese medicines. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2016; 1026:56-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2015.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Revised: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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14
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XIE HH, XIE T, XU JY, SHEN CS, LAI ZJ, XU NS, WANG SC, SHAN JJ. Metabolomics Study of Aconitine and Benzoylaconine Induced Reproductive Toxicity in BeWo Cell. CHINESE JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/s1872-2040(15)60881-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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15
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Li Y, Hou Z, Wang Y, Wang L, Ju L, Zhang Z, Deng H, Yuan L, Yang B, Zhang Y. Screening and verification of linearly dependent biomarkers with acute toxicity induced by Aconiti Radix based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra21136k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We built a method that has three parts: first is to screen the biomarkers with metabolic profiling analysis; second is to determine the linear dependence with acute toxicity biomarkers; third is to validate the biomarkers with different Aconiti Radix involved medicine.
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Sun B, Zhang M, Zhang Q, Ma K, Li H, Li F, Dong F, Yan X. Metabonomics study of the effects of pretreatment with glycyrrhetinic acid on mesaconitine-induced toxicity in rats. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2014; 154:839-46. [PMID: 24846827 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Revised: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/11/2014] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. (Fuzi), a commonly use traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has often been used in combination with Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae (Gancao) to reduce its toxicity due to diester diterpenoid alkaloids aconitine, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine. However, the mechanism of detoxication is still unclear. Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) is the metabolite of glycyrrhizinic acid (GL), the major component of Gancao. In present study, the effect of GA on the changes of metabolic profiles induced by mesaconitine was investigated using NMR-based metabolomic approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into a control group, a group administered mesaconitine alone, and a group administered mesaconitine with one pretreatment with GA. Their urine samples were used for NMR spectroscopic metabolic profiling. Statistical analyses such as orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), t-test, hierarchical cluster, and pathway analysis were used to detect the effects of pretreatment with GA on mesaconitine-induced toxicity. RESULTS The OPLS-DA score plots showed the metabolic profiles of GA-pretreated rats apparently approach to those of normal rats compared to mesaconitine-induced rats. From the t-test and boxplot results, the concentrations of leucine/isoleucine, lactate, acetate, succinate, trimethylamine (TMA), dimethylglycine (DMG), 2-oxo-glutarate, creatinine/creatine, glycine, hippurate, tyrosine and benzoate were significantly changed in metabolic profiles of mesaconitine-induced rats. The disturbed metabolic pathways include amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism. CONCLUSIONS GA-pretreatment can mitigate the metabolic changes caused by mesaconitine-treatment on rats, indicating that prophylaxis with GA could reduce the toxicity of mesaconitine at the metabolic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Sun
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, PR China
| | - Ming Zhang
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, PR China; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Qi Zhang
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, PR China
| | - Kunpeng Ma
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, PR China
| | - Haijing Li
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, PR China
| | - Famei Li
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Fangting Dong
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, PR China
| | - Xianzhong Yan
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, PR China.
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Du J, Lu X, Long Z, Zhang Z, Zhu X, Yang Y, Xu J. In vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of aconitine on melanoma cell line B16. Molecules 2013; 18:757-67. [PMID: 23299553 PMCID: PMC6270132 DOI: 10.3390/molecules18010757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2012] [Revised: 11/29/2012] [Accepted: 01/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The anti-tumor effect of aconitine in melanoma cell line B16 has been studied in this paper. We found that B16 cells showed significantly reduced growth rates and increased apoptotic effects in the presence of aconitine. Furthermore, aconitine inhibited the PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathways, thus regulating the levels of protein and mRNA of PCNA and apoptotic related signaling molecules. Above all, we found that aconitine showed an anti-melanoma effect in suppressing tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, we show that aconitine may be a useful anticancer drug in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Du
- Dermatology Department, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Xiaonian Lu
- Dermatology Department, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Ziwen Long
- Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Dermatology Department, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Xiaohua Zhu
- Dermatology Department, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Yongsheng Yang
- Dermatology Department, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Jinhua Xu
- Dermatology Department, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel./Fax: +86-21-5288-7776
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Wu C. Overview of developmental and reproductive toxicity research in China: history, funding mechanisms, and frontiers of the research. BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH. PART B, DEVELOPMENTAL AND REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY 2010; 89:9-17. [PMID: 20135688 DOI: 10.1002/bdrb.20231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive and developmental toxicology (DART) is the discipline that deals with adverse effects on male and female resulting from exposures to harmful chemical and physical agents. DART research in China boasted a long history, but presently has fallen behind the western world in education and research. The funding mechanisms for DART research in China were similar to that for other toxicological disciplines, and the funding has come from research grants and fellowships provided by national, ministerial, and provincial institutions. Finally, the frontiers of DART research in China could be summarized as follows: (1) use of model animals such as the zebrafish and roundworm, and use of cutting-edge techniques such as stem cell culture, as well as transgenic, metabonomic, and virtual screening to study the mechanisms of developmental toxicity for some important toxicants in China; (2) use of model animals and other lower-level sentinel organisms to evaluate and monitor the developmental toxicogical risk of environmental chemicals or pollutants; (3) epidemiological studies of some important reproductive hazards; (4) in-depth studying of the reproductive and developmental toxicity of some important environmental chemicals; and (5) evaluation and study of the reproductive and developmental toxicity of traditional Chinese medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunqi Wu
- National Beijing Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, Beijing Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology, PR China.
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Singhuber J, Zhu M, Prinz S, Kopp B. Aconitum in traditional Chinese medicine: a valuable drug or an unpredictable risk? JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2009; 126:18-30. [PMID: 19651200 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 319] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2009] [Revised: 07/21/2009] [Accepted: 07/26/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Aconitum species have been used in China as an essential drug in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for 2000 years. Reviewing the clinical application of Aconitum, their pharmacological effects, toxicity and detoxifying measures, herb-herb interactions, clinical taboos, famous herbal formulas, traditional and current herbal processing methods based upon a wide range of literature investigations serve as a case study to explore the multidisciplinary implications of botanicals used in TCM. The toxicological risk of improper usage of Aconitum remains very high, especially in countries like China, India and Japan. The toxicity of Aconitum mainly derives from the diester diterpene alkaloids (DDAs) including aconitine (AC), mesaconitine (MA) and hypaconitine (HA). They can be decomposed into less or non-toxic derivatives through Chinese traditional processing methods (Paozhi), which play an essential role in detoxification. Using Paozhi, the three main forms of processed aconite -- yanfuzi, heishunpian and baifupian -- can be obtained (CPCommission, 2005). Moreover, some new processing techniques have been developed in China such as pressure-steaming. The current development of fingerprint assays, in particular HPLC, has set a good basis to conduct an appropriate quality control for TCM crude herbs and their ready-made products. Therefore, a stipulation for a maximum level of DDA content of Aconitum is highly desirable in order to guarantee the clinical safety and its low toxicity in decoctions. Newly developed HPLC methods have made the accurate and simultaneous determination and quantification of DDA content interesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Singhuber
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Wang YJ, Chen BS, Lin MW, Lin AA, Peng H, Sung RJ, Wu SN. Time-Dependent Block of Ultrarapid-Delayed Rectifier K+ Currents by Aconitine, a Potent Cardiotoxin, in Heart-Derived H9c2 Myoblasts and in Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocytes. Toxicol Sci 2008; 106:454-63. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfn189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
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