Advances in studies on toxicity and modern toxicology of species in Aconitum L / 中草药

ABSTRACT

The species in Aconitum L. are commonly used in China as well known toxic herbs. Its main components, such as aconitine, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine, have significant pharmacological activity, and are also its toxic components. As a result, the therapeutic dose and toxic dose are very close, and the clinical therapeutic window is narrow. Adverse reactions and poisoning incidents occur frequently in clinic, which limits its wide applications. Modern toxicology studies on the plants of Aconitum L. to make the toxicity and its clear mechanism have important significance for more reasonable clinical guidance and safety evaluation. This paper reviews the toxicity of the plants of Aconitum L. and its mechanism and provides a scientific basis for clinical use.