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Aconitum Alkaloids and Biological Activities

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Natural Products

Abstract

Plants of the Aconitum genus have a long-lasting history of use both for their biological and toxicological properties. Most of Aconitum plants used in traditional medicine are being extensively explored and their chemical constituents and pharmacological effects are being evaluated.

This chapter summarizes the results of the most recent research works on the pharmacological and toxicological characteristics of alkaloids from various Aconitum species and highlights the analgesic, antiarrhythmic, and anticancer effects, attributed to various diterpenoid alkaloids. Diester diterpenoid alkaloids have been characterized as the most toxic compounds because of the presence of acetyl and benzoyl esters in the structures. Their capacity to bind to the sodium channels and activate permanent influx of Na+ ions through cell membranes was described as the principal mechanism underlying toxic, analgesic, and arrhythmogenic effects. Diterpenoid alkaloids responsible for analgesic, antiarrhythmic, and anticancer action are compared on the basis of their therapeutic and toxicological properties.

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Abbreviations

ED50 :

The calculated estimate of the dose at which the compound is expected to induce 50% of its pharmacological response

i.p.:

Intraperitoneal

i.v.:

Intravenous

IC50 :

The dose causing 50% inhibition of cell growth as compared to control

LD50 :

The dose causing mortality of 50% of the animals tested

p.o.:

per os

s.c.:

Subcutaneous

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM U916, Institut Bergonié, Université Bordeaux Segalen, 229 cours de l’Argonne, 33076, Bordeaux, France

    Dr. Ainura Chodoeva, Jean-Jacques Bosc & Jacques Robert

Authors
  1. Dr. Ainura Chodoeva
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  2. Jean-Jacques Bosc
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  3. Jacques Robert
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ainura Chodoeva .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Department, M.L. Sukhadia University, Durga Nursery Road, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India

    Kishan Gopal Ramawat

  2. Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences, Biological-Active Plant Substances Study, University of Bordeaux, 210 Chemin de Leysotte CS 50008, Villenave d'Ornon, 33882, France

    Jean-Michel Mérillon

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Chodoeva, A., Bosc, JJ., Robert, J. (2013). Aconitum Alkaloids and Biological Activities. In: Ramawat, K., Mérillon, JM. (eds) Natural Products. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22144-6_191

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