Indian Medicinal Plants

14 Aconitum ferox Wall. ex Ser.
A
The root alkaloids contain bishatisine,
bishaconitine, falconitine and
mithaconitine. Treatment with cow’s
milk reduces cardiotoxic effect of the
root.
Aconitum ferox Wall. ex Ser.
Family ◮ Ranunculaceae.
Habitat ◮ The alpine Himalayas from
Sikkim to Garhwal and Assam.
English ◮ Indian Aconite, Wolfsbane,
Monkshood.
Ayurvedic ◮ Vatsanaabha, Visha,
Amrita, Vajraanga, Sthaavaravisha,
Vatsanaagaka, Shrangikavisha,
Garala.
Unani ◮ Bish, Bishnaag.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Vasanaavi, Karunaabhi.
Folk ◮ Bacchanaag, Bish, Mithaa
Zahar, Telia Visha.
Action ◮ Narcotic, sedative, antileprotic,
anti-inflammatory. Extremely
poisonous. (Roots possess depressant
activity, but after mitigation in
cow’s milk for 2–3 days, they exhibit
stimulant activity.)
Key application ◮ In neuralgia.
(Aconitum napellus L. has been
listed by German Commission E
among unapproved herbs.)
The root contains diterpenoid alkaloids,
which act as a powerful poison
that affects the heart and central nervous
system. Aconitine has a shortlived
cardiotonic action followed by
cardiac depression. Topically, aconitine
has analgesic, anti-inflammatory
and anaesthetic activity.
Aconitum heterophyllum
Wall. ex Royle.
Family ◮ Ranunculaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated at Manali and
Rahla in Himachal Pradesh. Also
found in northwestern Himalayas
at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to
4,000 m.
English ◮ Atis Root, Aconite.
Ayurvedic ◮ Ativishaa, Arunaa,
Vishaa, Shuklakandaa, Bhanguraa,
Ghunapriyaa, Ghunavallabhaa,
Kaashmiraa, Shishubhaishajyaa
(indicating its use in paediatrics),
Vishwaa.
Unani ◮ Atees.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Athividayam.
Folk ◮ Patis.
Action ◮ Often regarded as nonpoisosnous,
antiperiodic, antiinflammatory,
astringent (used
in cough, diarrhoea, dyspepsia),
tonic (used after fevers), febrifuge,
antispasmodic (used in irritability
of stomach and abdominal
pains).
Along with other therapeutic applications,
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia
of India indicates the use of the dried,
tuberous root in emesis and helminthiasis.
The roots yield 0.79% of total alkaloids,
of which atisin is 0.4%. Atisine
is much less toxic than aconitine and