Matrix Science Pharma (MSP)

ABSTRACT

Aconitum brachypodum, also known as Yi-zhi-hao or Tie￾bang-chui, is a dried tuber of the herbaceous plant Aconitum, belonging to the family Ranunculaceae. It is also mainly distributed in the northeast and northwest regions of Yunnan Province, as well as the southwestern region of Sichuan Province,[1‑3] and has been widely used in pain management. Studies have shown that its primary active ingredient is alcohol, amine, and alkaloids, while its main source of toxicity is from diester alkaloids.[4‑8] However, the quality standards for Aconitum brachypodum medicinal herbs and its preparations, such as tablets and total alkaloid injections,
have not yet described or quantified its toxic components.[9‑11] Failure to effectively control the toxicity of this highly toxic herb would pose significant risks to clinical use. A study of its chemical components[12] revealed that its diester alkaloids primarily include aconitine and its derivatives, such as hypaconitine, 3‑deoxyaconitine, N‑deethyl‑3‑acetylaconitine, N‑deethylaconitine, and 15‑deoxyhypaconitine. These chemical structures are similar to aconitine, characterized by acetylation at the 8‑hydroxyl position and benzoylation at the 14 position, resulting in the ease of nitrogen atom dissolution in acidic water and small molecular polarity that can be easily extracted into organic solvents. For the first time, this study utilized these structural features to qualitatively identify and quantitatively determine the toxic components in Aconitum brachypodum, providing scientific support for quality control of medicinal herbs and preparations, as well as safe clinical use.