Research progress of aconitine toxicity and forensic analysis of aconitine poisoning

Abstract

Chinese herbal medicines have been extensively used in China and other countries for centuries. Aconitine, a diterpenoid alkaloid extracted from Aconitum plants, has anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, but can also induce severe arrhythmia and neurotoxicity. Aconitine poisoning accidents caused by misuse, suicide, or homicide have been reported in recent years. In China, fatal aconitine poisoning can occasionally happen on account of accidental ingestion of some wild plants or consumption of herbal decoction made from the roots of Aconitum plants. However, it is rather difficult for forensic experts to find the specific results in present forensic autopsy of aconitine-induced death. To further clarify its potential risk following the widespread application of aconitine, toxicological characteristics and pharmacokinetics of aconitine are reviewed. Moreover, gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiovascular symptoms were observed frequently in aconitine poisoning cases. In addition, the review also aims at providing some convincing evidences for forensic experts to identify unexplained death with postmortem examination. ARTICLE HISTORY

Current status and potential role of circular RNAs in neurological disorders

“…Agents such as inorganic metals, pesticides, and psychostimulants can induce neurotoxicity (Liu et al ; Xiong et al ; Zhang et al ; Sang et al ; Yang et al ; Gao et al ). Because of the significant impacts on human health caused by neurotoxic agents, there is considerable demand to characterize the biological signals and markers associated with exposure to these agents (Roberts et al ; Yang et al ).…”

Comparison of analgesic activities of aconitine in different mice pain models

“…AC accounted for >60% of the total diester-diterpenoid alkaloids in Aconite which is widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid Arthritis, cardiovascular disease and tumors [ 16 ]. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Aconite has various biological activities such as analgesia, anti-arrhythmia, antitumor and so on [ 17 – 19 ]. However, it was still unknown whether AC had beneficial effects in treating pain.…”

Aconitine disrupts serotonin neurotransmission via 5‐hydroxytryptamine receptor in zebrafish embryo

“…Although AC has many therapeutic uses, it is also highly potent in causing neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity (Gao et al, 2018). Accidental overdose of AC can occur when herb plant is misidentified or not properly prepared and processed (Gao et al, 2018). This is a major health concern associated with the use of AC, and some cases could be lethal (Chan, 2009; Gao et al, 2018; Sheth, Tan, Tan, & Tay, 2015).…”

“…Although AC has many therapeutic uses, it is also highly potent in causing neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity (Gao et al, 2018). Accidental overdose of AC can occur when herb plant is misidentified or not properly prepared and processed (Gao et al, 2018).…”