Mukesh Kr. Singh et al., (2012) Int. J. Res. Pharm. Sci., 3(2), 242-246 242 ©JK Welfare & Pharmascope Foundation | International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences Aconite: A pharmacological update Mukesh Kr. Singh*, Minu Vinod, Shiv Kr. Iyer, Gaurav Khare, Gotmi Sharwan, Yogesh Kr. Larokar Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research, Kohka Road, Kurud, Bhilai-491024, India ABSTRACT Aconitine (Queen of Poisons) and related alkaloids found in the Aconitum species are highly toxic cardiotoxins and neurotoxins. Aconite is a herbaceous perennial plant, chiefly native of the northern hemisphere, growing in mois- ture retentive but well-draining soils of the mountain meadows. At present, more than 120 species of the plant have been found. Severe aconite poisoning occurs after accidental ingestion of the wild plant or consumption of an herbal decoction made from aconite roots. This review paper discusses some of the pharmacological activities of the aconite plant and its chief constituent aconitine. The effect of KB-R7943, the sodium-calcium exchange (NCX) blocker, on aconitine-induced arrhythmias in Guinea pigs using the ECG recordings suppressed abnormal electrical activity, but SEA did not show such effects. Aconitine also mediates the phosphorylation status of Cx43 and PKCα in the cultured ventricular myocytes of neonatal rats. These reports collected are very encouraging and indicate that the plant should be studied more expensively for its therapeutic benefits. Keywords: Aconite; Aconitine; Anti-inflammatory; Arrhythmia; Phosphorylation; Poisoning INTRODUCTION Aconitum, known as aconite, monkshood, wolfsbane, leopard's bane, women's bane, Devil's helmet or blue rocket, is a genus of over 250 species of flowering plants belonging to the buttercup family, Ranuncula- ceae. Aconitine is a highly poisonous alkaloid derived from various aconite species. Aconite is a herbaceous perennial plant, chiefly native of the northern hemisphere, growing in moisture re- tentive but well-draining soils of the mountain mea- dows. Their dark green leaves lack stipules. They are palmate with 5-7 segments, each of which is 3-lobed with coarse sharp teeth. The leaves are spirally ar- ranged, and the lower leaves possess long petioles. The tall, erect stem is crowned by racemes of large blue, purple, white, yellow or pink zygomorphic flowers with numerous stamens. There are 2-10 petals in the form of nectaries. Aconitine, the chief constituent of Aconitum species, is soluble in chloroform or benzene, slightly in alcohol or ether, and very slightly in water. The Merck Index gives LD 50s (i.e., median lethal dose 50%) for mice: 0.166 mg/kg (intravenously); 0.328 mg/kg intraperitoneally (injected into the body cavity); approx. 1 mg/kg orally (ingested). In rats, the oral LD 50 is given as 5.97 mg/kg. Oral doses as low as 1.5–6 mg aconitine was reported to be lethal in humans (en.wikipedia.org, 2011). TAXONOMY (www.zipcodezoo.com, 2011) Domain: Eukaryotae Kingdom: Plantae Subkingdom: Viridaeplantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Euphyllophytina Infraphylum: Radiatopses Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Ranunculidae Superorder: Ranunculanae Order: Ranunculales Family: Ranunculaceae Subfamily: Trollioideae Genus: Aconitum MORPHOLOGY Genus Aconitum Herbs: Perennial; tubers or roots. Roots: Elongate fascicled. Leaves: Basal and cauline; proximal leaves petiolate; distal leaves sessile; cauline leaves alternate. Leaf blade palmately divided into 3-7 segments; ultimate segments narrowly elliptic or lanceolate to linear; mar- gins incised and toothed. www.ijrps.pharmascope.org ISSN: 0975-7538 Review Article * Corresponding Author Email: mukeshbiotech09@gmail.com Contact: +91-9691699320 Received on: 30-12-2011 Revised on: 03-03-2012 Accepted on: 14-03-2012