aconitine and 3-acetylaconitine

The transformations that occur in diterpenoid alkaloids during the process of sand frying for Chinese herbal medicine preparation have yet to be clarified. This study investigated the structural changes that take place in 3-acetylaconitine during a simulation of heat-processing and evaluated the toxicity and biological activity of the pyrolysis products.. The diterpenoid alkaloid 3-acetylaconitine was heated at 180 °C for 15 min to simulate the process of sand frying. The pyrolysis products were separated using column chromatography, and their structures were investigated using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Further, in vivo cardiotoxicity and acute toxicity of 3-acetylaconitine and its pyrolysis products were compared, and the aconitine-induced arrhythmia model was employed to evaluate the antiarrhythmic effect of the pyrolysis products.. Two new diterpenoid alkaloids, pyroacetylaconitine and 16-epi-pyroacetylaconitine, a pair of epimers at C-16, were isolated. After comparing the structures of these compounds, possible transformation pathways were proposed. Compared with the prototype compound, 3-acetylaconitine, the cardiotoxicity and acute toxicity of the heat-transformed products were significantly decreased. In the biological activity assay, the two pyrolysis products exhibited an effective increase in ventricular premature beat latency, a reduction in the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia, as well as an increase in the rate of arrhythmia inhibition, implying strong antiarrhythmic activity.. Compared with 3-acetylaconitine, its pyrolysis products displayed lower toxicity and good antiarrhythmic effects; thus, they have potential for being developed into antiarrhythmic medicines. Please cite this article as: Wang YJ, Wang Y, Tao P. Structural characterization, in vivo toxicity and biological activity of two new pyro-type diterpenoid alkaloids derived from 3-acetylaconitine. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(3): 302-314.

Topics: Aconitine; Alkaloids; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Cardiotoxicity; Diterpenes; Humans; Sand

This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of alkaloids in Tibetan medicine Bangna(Aconiti Penduli et Aconiti Flavi Radix) on osteoarthritis(OA) rats in vitro and in vivo and the underlying mechanisms. Chondrocytes were isolated from 2-3 week-old male SD rats and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) was used to induce OA in chondrocytes in vitro. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay was used to investigate the toxicity of seven alkaloids(12-epi-napelline, songorine, benzoylaconine, aconitine, 3-acetylaconitine, mesaconitine, and benzoylmesaconine) to chondrocytes. Chondrocytes were classified into the control group, model group(induced by LPS 5 μg·mL~(-1) for 12 h), and administration groups(induced by LPS 5 μg·mL~(-1) for 12 h and incubated for 24 h). The protein expression of inflammatory factors cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthetase(iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in each group were detected by Western blot, and the protein expression of matrix metalloprotease-13(MMP-13), aggrecan, collagen Ⅱ, fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2) by immunofluorescence staining. For the in vivo experiment, sodium iodoacetate was used to induce OA in rats, and the expression of MMP-13, TNF-α, and FGF2 in cartilage tissues of rats in each group was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the viability of chondrocytes could reach more than 90% under the treatment of the seven alkaloids in a certain dose range. Aconitine, 12-epi-napelline, songorine, 3-acetylaconitine, and mesaconitine could decrease the protein expression of inflammatory factors COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α and IL-1β compared with the model group. Moreover, 12-epi-napelline, aconitine, and mesaconitine could down-regulate the expression of MMP-13 and up-regulate the expression of aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ. In addition, compared with the model group and other Bangna alkaloids, 12-epi-napelline significantly up-regulated the expression of FGF2. Therefore, 12-epi-napelline was selected for the animal experiment in vivo. Immunohistochemistry results showed that 12-epi-napelline could significantly reduce the expression of MMP-13 and TNF-α in cartilage tissues, and up-regulate the expression of FGF2 compared with the model group. In conclusion, among the seven Bangna alkaloids, 12-epi-napelline can promote the repair of OA in rats by down-regulating the expression of MMP-13 and TNF-α and up-regulating the expression of FGF2.

Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; Aggrecans; Alkaloids; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Cyclooxygenase 2; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; Interleukin-1beta; Iodoacetic Acid; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional; NF-kappa B; Osteoarthritis; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To study the processing principles of different processed products of Aconitum pendulum.. Using high performance liquid chromatography and acute toxicity test to compare the changes in chemical composition and toxicity of the roots and processed products of A. pendulum.. The main toxic components of the roots of A. pendulum were aconitine, deoxyaconitine and 3-acetylaconitine. The contents of these three alkaloids were significantly reduced in processed products, while benzoylaconitine significantly increased. In addition, processed products emerged aconine, polyschistine-D, beyzoyldeoxyaconine, 16-epi-pyroaconitine and 16-epi-pyrodeoxyaconitine. From the structural analysis, these new emerged compounds transformed from the aconitine, deoxyaconitine and 3-acetylaconitine.. Different processing methods can reduce the toxicity of the roots of A. pendulum. Processing principle is ester hydrolysis and high-temperature pyrolysis.

Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; Animals; Female; Male; Mice

The effect of the Aconitum alkaloids aconitine, 3-acetylaconitine, lappaconitine, and N-desacetyllappaconitine to inhibit [3H]noradrenaline uptake was investigated in rat hippocampal synaptosomes. Aconitine and 3-acetylaconitine, which are known to activate sodium channels, had comparable inhibitory potencies and yielded Ki (inhibitor constant) values of 230 +/- 66 nM and 316 +/- 96 nM, respectively. In contrast, lappaconitine and N-desacetyllappaconitine failed to inhibit [3H]noradrenaline uptake. When either lappaconitine or N-desacetyllappaconitine was applied in combination with aconitine, [3H]noradrenaline uptake was not affected. The sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin enhanced [3H]noradrenaline uptake, whereas uptake was completely blocked in sodium-free incubation medium. The inhibitory action of aconitine and 3-acetylaconitine on [3H]noradrenaline uptake was blocked by addition of tetrodotoxin. Patch clamp studies performed on cultured rat hippocampal neurons revealed an inhibitory action of lappaconitine and N-desacetyllappaconitine on whole cell sodium currents. It is concluded that the blockade of [3H]noradrenaline uptake evoked by aconitine and 3-acetylaconitine is mediated indirectly by an increased sodium concentration in the synaptosomes.

Topics: Aconitine; Animals; Hippocampus; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Norepinephrine; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Plants, Medicinal; Pyramidal Cells; Radioligand Assay; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Structure-Activity Relationship; Synaptosomes; Tritium

The effects of the Aconitum alkaloid 3-acetylaconitine on neuronal activity were investigated in the slice preparation and on cultivated neurons of rat hippocampus by extracellular and patch-clamp recordings, respectively. 3-Acetylaconitine (0.01-1 microM) diminished the orthodromic and antidromic population spike in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory action of the drug was preceded by a transiently enhanced excitability. The latency of onset of the inhibition was accelerated by increased stimulation frequency, whereas recovery during washout of the alkaloid was accelerated by decreased stimulation frequency. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of 3-acetylaconitine was evaluated in two different models of epileptiform activity induced either by blockade of GABA receptors by bicuculline (10 microM) or by a nominal Mg(2+)-free bathing medium. In accordance with the activity-dependent mode of action, this compound abolished the synaptically evoked population spikes in the presence of bicuculline or nominal Mg(2+)-free bathing medium, respectively. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed an interaction of 3-acetylaconitine with the voltage-dependent sodium channel. At a concentration of 1 microM, 3-acetylaconitine did not affect the peak amplitude of the sodium current, but shifted the current-voltage relationship in the hyperpolarized direction such that sodium currents were already activated at the resting potential.

Topics: Aconitine; Animals; Depression, Chemical; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Epilepsy; Evoked Potentials; Hippocampus; In Vitro Techniques; Ion Channel Gating; Male; Neurons; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sodium Channels

Three diterpenoid alkaloids were isolated from Aconitum sinomontanum var. angustius distributed in south Gansu. They were identified as ranaconitine (I), lappaconitine (II), 3-acetylaconitine (III) on the basis of spectral evidences (UV, IR, HNMR, 13CNMR, MS).

Topics: Aconitine; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; Analgesics; Animals; Biogenic Monoamines; Drug Interactions; Female; Male; Morphine; Neurotransmitter Agents; Pain Measurement; Rats; Reserpine

Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Female; Macaca mulatta; Male; Mice; Pain; Rats; Sensory Thresholds; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Absorption; Aconitine; Aconitum; Animals; Bile; Chromatography, Paper; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Digestive System; Female; Kinetics; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Mice; Pregnancy; Tissue Distribution; Tritium

Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; Adrenal Glands; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Capillary Permeability; Cell Migration Inhibition; Edema; Female; Granuloma; Male; Mice; Rats

Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; Alkaloids; Analgesics; Anesthetics, Local; Animals; Guinea Pigs; Mice; Rabbits

Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; China; Humans; Middle Aged; Plants, Medicinal