Aconitum carmichaelii is a flowering plant species native to East Asia, particularly in China and Japan. It is commonly known as Chinese Aconite, Carmichael's Monkshood and Chinese Wolfsbane (Chinese: 烏頭附子; pinyin: Wu-tou Fu-zi) (Japanese: 鳥兜 or トリカブト, Torikabuto). It is known in Mandarin as Fu Zi (meaning daughter root, or lateral root) and as Wu Tou (meaning tuberous mother root, or root tuber).
[edit] Biological effects
All parts of this plant are extremely toxic, [1] and has historically been used as a poison on arrows.[2] It is sometimes used topically in Dit Da Jow liniment.[citation needed] If not prepared properly by a trained person, aconitum can be deadly when taken internally.
It is considered a medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine and the root is most commonly used to restore yang and expel cold, for increasing blood flow, vasodilatation, hypertension, anti-inflammation, analgesic, and sedative and immunostimulation.[citation needed]
[edit] Chemical constituents
- Aconitine: Raw Fu Zi, 0.004%; prepared Fu Zi, trace/none.
- Hypaconitine: Raw Fu Zi, 0.12%; prepared Fu Zi, 0.001%
- Mesaconitine: Raw Fu Zi, 0.033%; prepared Fu Zi, 0.001%
The LD50 of aconite in mice was 0.295 mg/kg SI, and that of the prepared decoction is 17.42 g/k.[citation needed] A lethal dose of aconitine is 3–4 mg.
[edit] Synonyms
- Aconitum chinense Paxton [= Aconitum carmichaelii var. truppelianum]
- Aconitum japonicum var. truppelianum Ulbr. [≡ Aconitum carmichaelii var. truppelianum]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Aconitum carmichaelii
- ^ Bisset, NG (1981). "Arrow poisons in China. Part II. Aconitum--botany, chemistry, and pharmacology". Journal of ethnopharmacology 4 (3): 247–336. PMID 7029146.
