title: Clinical Aspects of Aconitum Preparations.
abstract: Aconite species have played an important role in human history. Aconitum species have been used worldwide as poisons as well as remedies. Their potential in targeting several ailments such as pain, rheumatism, and lethargy has been recognized by Western, Chinese, and Indian health care practitioners. Aconite use in herbal preparations has declined, especially in Europe and the United States, in the first half of the twentieth century due to several reported toxicity cases. The situation has changed with the application of new technologies for the accurate analysis of its toxic components and the development of efficient detoxification protocols. Some Asian countries started small clinical trials to evaluate the potency and safety of different marketed aconite preparations. The current review summarizes therapeutic uses of aconite preparations in China, Taiwan, India, and Japan. It also highlights clinical trial results with special emphasis on their limitations. Modern drugs and pharmacopoeial preparations derived from aconite are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Collage of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Collage of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Shazly
authors.affiliation: Chinese Medicine Research and Development Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tung-Ying
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kun-Tai
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Dezső
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Csupor
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hohmann
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Collage of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fang-Rong
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Collage of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yang-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000157:Aconitine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D031841:Aconitum / Q000737:chemistry*; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D002681:China; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007564:Japan; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D015394:Molecular Structure; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D004224:Diterpenes; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D028321:Plant Preparations; D000157:Aconitine