title: A review on phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology studies of Aconitum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A number of species belonging to herbal genus Aconitum are well-known and popular for their medicinal benefits in Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Tibetan and Chinese systems of medicine. It is a valuable drug as well as an unpredictable toxic material. It is therefore imperative to understand and control the toxic potential of herbs from this genus. In this review, the ethnomedicinal, phytochemistry, pharmacology, structure activity relationship and toxicology studies of Aconitum were presented to add to knowledge for their safe application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of about 76 of all aconite species growing in China and surrounding far-east and Asian countries are used for various medical purposes. The main ingredients of aconite species are alkaloids, flavonoids, free fatty acids and polysaccharides. The tuberous roots of genus Aconitum are commonly applied for various diseases such as rheumatic fever, painful joints and some endocrinal disorders. It stimulates the tip of sensory nerve fibres. These tubers of Aconitum are used in the herbal medicines only after processing. There remain high toxicological risks of the improper medicinal applications of Aconitum. The cardio and neurotoxicities of this herb are potentially lethal. Many analytical methods have been reported for quantitatively and qualitatively characterization of Aconitum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aconitum is a plant of great importance both in traditional medicine in general and in TCM in particular. Much attention should be put on Aconitum because of its narrow therapeutic range. However, Aconitum's toxicity can be reduced using different techniques and then benefit from its pharmacological activities. New methods, approaches and techniques should be developed for chemical and toxicological analysis to improve its quality and safety.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Rwanda Standards Board, Kigali, Republic of Rwanda.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nyirimigabo
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yubo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kojo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Agyemang
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D031841:Aconitum; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000737:chemistry; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D064209:Phytochemicals; D011134:Polysaccharides
keywords: Aconitum; aconite poisoning; pharmacology; phytochemistry; toxicology