Aconitum violaceum Health Dictionary

(Bruchl) Mukherjee.

Synonym: Aconitum balfourii Stapf.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: The sub-alpine and alpine Himalayas between 3,300 and 3,900 m.

Ayurvedic: Vatsanaabha (related sp.).

Folk: Banwaa.

Action: Poisonous, highly toxic.

Air-dried roots contain 1.2% total alkaloids of which pseudoaconitine is 0.4%. Pseudoaconitine is biologically 1.5 times as active as aconitine. (A. atrox is a poisonous species and is one of the common constituents of Aconi- tumferox of commerce.)... aconitum atrox

Stapf ex Holmes.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: The western Himalayas from Hazara to Kashmir and Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, between altitudes of 2,100 m and 3,600 m.

English: Indian Napellus.

Ayurvedic: Visha, Shringika-Visha, Vatsanaabha (related sp.).

Folk: Mohri, Meethaa Zahar.

Action: Sedative, antirheumatic, analgesic, antitussive, antidiar- rhoeal. Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I and Part II, equated A. chasmanthum with Vatsanaabha. (See A.ferox.) It has the same uses as A. ferox. The alkaloid content of the root ranges from 2.98 to 3.11%; includes chasmaconitine and chasmanthinine.

Napellus, equated with Aconitum napellus Linn., is indigenous to Central Europe (named after the Black sea port Aconis and known as Wolfsbane, Monkshood). Aconitum of homoeopathic medicine is an alkaloid obtained from the roots and stems of A. nepellus. Used as an analgesic and sedative. It contains terpenoids up to 1.2%, including aconitine and aconine.

Toxic constituents of A. napellus are aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconi- tine, 3-acetylacoitine, lappaconitine (diterpenoid-ester alkaloids), benza- conine, benzoylaconine.

Aconitine, mesaconitine and hyp- aconitine exert widespread effects on cardiac, neural and muscle tissue by activitating sodium channels. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)

Aconitine is absorbed through mucus membranes and the skin. (Francis Brinker.) It is a cardiotoxin and interacts with antiarrhythmics, antihypertensives, Digoxin/cardiac glycosides. (Sharon M. Herr.)

Dosage: Root—10-15 mg powder. (CCRAS.)... aconitum chasmanthum

Stapf.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: Alpine regions of Chat- tadhar and Bhalesh ranges of Bhadarwah district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Ayurvedic: Vatsanaabha (related sp.).

Folk: Bashahr-Mohra, Dudhiyaa Bish, Safed Bikh.

Action: Roots and leaves are used in rheumatism, rheumatic fever and acute headache.

The roots contain 0.9% total alkaloids, of which 0.51% is pseudoaconi- tine.... aconitum deinorrhizum

Stapf.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: The sub-alpine and alpine zones of the Garhwal Himalayas.

Ayurvedic: Vatsanaabha (related sp.).

Folk: Bikh, Bis, Meethaa Telia.

Action: Sedative, carminative, anti-inflammatory (used for the treatment of nervous system, digestive system; rheumatism, fever).

The root alkaloids contain bishati- sine, bishaconitine, falconitine and mithaconitine. Treatment with cow's milk reduces cardiotoxic effect of the root. cardiac depression. Topically, aconi- tine has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic activity.... aconitum falconeri

(Bruhl) Stapf.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: The sub-alpine and alpine Himalayas of Sikkim between altitudes of 3,330 m and 4,200 m.

Ayurvedic: Vatsanaabha (related sp.).

Folk: Kaalo Bikhmo.

Action: Poisonous. (Found mixed with the roots of A.ferox and A. spicatum of commerce.)... aconitum laciniatum

Hook. f. and Thoms.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: The Himalayas from eastern Nepal to Chumbi at altitudes of 3,600 to 4,200 m.

Ayurvedic: Vatsanaabha (related sp.).

Action: As potent as Aconitum ferox.... aconitum luridum

D. Don.

Synonym: A. bisma (Buch.-Ham.) Rapaics.... aconitum palmatum

Stapf.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: The alpine zone of the Himalayas of Sikkim and Chumbi. Principal source of Bikh or Bish of Kolkata market. English: Nepal Aconite. Ayurvedic: Vatsanaabha (related sp.).

Action: Antipyretic, analgesic.

The roots yield 1.75% of alkaloids which contain mainly pseudoaconitine and bikhaconitine.... aconitum spicatum

Wall. ex Royle.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: The alpine Himalayas from Sikkim to Garhwal and Assam.

English: Indian Aconite, Wolfsbane, Monkshood.

Ayurvedic: Vatsanaabha, Visha, Amrita, Vajraanga, Sthaavaravisha, Vatsanaagaka, Shrangikavisha, Garala.

Unani: Bish, Bishnaag.

Siddha/Tamil: Vasanaavi, Karunaab- hi.

Folk: Bacchanaag, Bish, Mithaa Zahar, Telia Visha.

Action: Narcotic, sedative, antilepro- tic, anti-inflammatory. Extremely poisonous. (Roots possess depressant activity, but after mitigation in cow's milk for 2-3 days, they exhibit stimulant activity.)

Key application: In neuralgia. (Aconitum napellus L. has been listed by German Commission E among unapproved herbs.)

The root contains diterpenoid alkaloids, which act as a powerful poison that affects the heart and central nervous system. Aconitine has a shortlived cardiotonic action followed by

Habitat: Cultivated at Manali and Rahla in Himachal Pradesh. Also found in northwestern Himalayas at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 m.

English: Atis Root, Aconite.

Ayurvedic: Ativishaa, Arunaa, Vishaa, Shuklakandaa, Bhanguraa, Ghunapriyaa, Ghunavallabhaa, Kaashmiraa, Shishubhaishajyaa (indicating its use in paediatrics), Vishwaa.

Unani: Atees.

Siddha/Tamil: Athividayam.

Folk: Patis.

Action: Often regarded as non- poisosnous, antiperiodic, anti- inflammatory, astringent (used in cough, diarrhoea, dyspepsia), tonic (used after fevers), febrifuge, antispasmodic (used in irritability of stomach and abdominal pains).

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of the dried, tuberous root in emesis and helminthi- asis.

The roots yield 0.79% of total alkaloids, of which atisin is 0.4%. Atisine is much less toxic than aconitine and pseudoaconitine. (The inert character of the plant is well known to the hill people, who often use it as a vegetable.) The plant possesses potent immuno- stimulant properties.

Dosage: Root—0.6-2.08 g. (API Vol. I.)... aconitum heterophyllum