Vatsanabha

BOTANICAL NAME : Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf. ex

Holmes.

FAMILY : Ranunculaceae

CLASSICAL NAMES

Vatsanabha, Visha (C.S.; S.S.; A.H.).

SYNONYMS

Amrita, Garala, Mahoushadha, Marana, Naga, Pranharaka, Stokak, Ugra, Vatsanabhi (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982; D.N., 1982; R.N., 1982).

Vernacular names

Eng.-Aconite, Monk‟s hood, Holf‟s bane, Indian Napellus. Hindi- Balnag,

Mohri, Bisa, Bachnag, Mithazahar, Neethabisha, Meethabisha, Bachhnaga,

Teliya Bish, Piun. Beng.- Kathavish, Bish, Katbish. Guj.- Nagpuri,

Bachnaga, Vachanaga, Basanag. Kan.- Basanalli, Vatsanabha, Vatsanabhi,

Vachanaga. Mal.- Vatsanabhi. Mar.- Bachnaga, Nagpuri, Bachnaga,

Bachnaba. Punj.- Mitha Visha, Mithatelia, Mohri. Tam.-Vasanaavi,

Vashanavi, Vatsanabhi, Nabhi, Vasanabhi. Tel.- Vatsanaabhi, Nabhi.

Assam.- Bish, Mithavish. Kash.- Banbalang, Mohri, Mohand. Oriya-

Tahara, Mahura, Mithvisa. Urdu-Bachnak, Mithatelia, Beesh, Atees.

Pushtu.- Mohri (Anonymous, 1999; Anonymous, 1985; Kirtikar and Basu,

1933; Nadkarni, 1976; Chopra et al., 1958, 1986; Guha Bakshi et al., 1999).

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

An erect perennial herb, root biennial, paired and tuberous, stem erect, simple, 50-100 cm high. Leaves numerous, lower longer petioled and

intermediate orbicular-reniform, 3- palmatipartite almost to the very base,

segments divided, ultimate laciniae linear, acute to very acute. Inflorescence

a long, narrow, stiff raceme, often over 30cm long. Flowers blue or whitish

and variegated with blue. Follicles oblong, 10-16 mm long, continuous or

with slightly divergent tips, glabrous. Seeds unequally 3- winged. Flowering

475

VATSANABHA Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf. ex Holmes.

476

and Fruiting: July - September (Dutt, 1928; Anonymous, 1985; Kirtikar and

Basu, 1933; Guha Bakshi et al., 1999; Mukerji, 1953).

DISTRIBUTION

Found wild in sub alpine and alpine Western Himalayas from Chitral and Hazara (Guha Bakshi et al., 1999) to Kashmir and Lahul between altitudes of

2100-3600m; also found in the mountains of Assam and in sub alpine

grasslands of Himachal Pradesh (Anonymous, 1985; Bhattacharya, 1961).

PART(S) USED

Root (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982)

ACTIONS AND USES

The root are considered as highly toxic; but suitable processing may reduce

the toxicity. In small doses (0.023 - 0.018g) they are beneficial in nasal

catarrh, evula hypertrophy, sore throat, gibbous, paralysis and chronic fever.

Internally, the tincture of root (1 in 8 of alcohol in doses of 2 to 5 drops) is

used in combination with other drugs for the treatment of fever and

rheumatism. The root is considered to be cardiac stimulant, hypoglycemic,

diaphoretic and antiphlogistic. Powdered roots in the form of liniment or

paste are used to spread over the skin in case of arthritis and in scabies (A.

ferox; Chatterjee and Pakrashi, 1994). Roots are used as diuretic,

antiperiodic, anodyne, antidiabetic, and antipyretic in very small doses.

Aconitine is a cardiac irritant alkaloid, which in the form of tincture, when

applied locally acts as a peripheral stimulant to sensory nerves, producing

first a tingling sensation and then depression and numbness (Chopra et al.,

1958). Taken internally it stimulates the vagus center and slower the heart

rate. It is used as a cardiac depressant in high arterial tension of cardiac

origin. It is also used externally in various forms of neuralgia, tetanus, acute

and chronic rheumatism, gout, erysipelas and in affections of the heart,

characterized by increased action. Internally it is used in cases of fever and

for relieving pain, its general effect being to lower the temperature, increase

the amount of urine and to lessen sensibility (Anonymous, 1987).

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES

Rasa - Madhura (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982), Avyakta rasa (C.S.Ci.23.24).

Guna - Ruksha, Tikshna, Laghu, Vikashi, Vyavayi, Ushna, Sukshma,

Ashukari and Avipaki (C.S.Ci.23.24; S.S.Ka.2.19; A.H.U.35.7-8), Vishada

(C.S.Ci.23.24).

Vipaka - Madhura.

477

Veerya - Ushna.

Doshaghnata - Tridoshhara, mainly Vata kapha shamaka (Sharma, 1978;

B.N., 1982).

Karma -

External - Vedanasthapana, Shothhara.

Internal -Deepana, Pachana, Shoolaprashamana, Yakrit uttejaka, Hriday

uttejaka, Mootrajanana, Shukrasthambhaka, Artavajanana, Kushthaghana

(S.S.Ci.9.55), Swedajanana, Jwaraghna (C.S.Ci.3.308), Kaphaghna. In

lower dose act as Balya and Rasayana (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).

Rogaghnata - External - as paste applied on Kushtha (Leprosy)

(A.H.Ci.19.83) Amavata, Sandhivata, Gridhrashi, Shirashoola.

Internal - Tridoshavikar specially in Kaphavatavikara, Nadidourbalya,

Agnimandya, Hriddourbalya, Hriday and Phuphphus shotha, Kasa, Shwasa

(A.H.Ci.21.60), Kushtha (S.S.Ci.9.55; A.H.Ci.19.83; U.39.79), Jwara

(C.S.Ci.3.308; A.H.U.39.50), Samanya dourbalya, Shukrameha (C.S.Ci. 1-

3.24), Udaravikara, Udarashoola, Yakrita-Pliha vikara, Gulma, Apasmara,

Unmada, loss of Intellect & Memory (C.S.Ci.1-3.24; A.H.Ci.21.16; U.39.50)

(Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).

Dose: Root Powder (after purification) 15.5 - 32 mg (Sharma, 1978;

Anonymous, 1999).

PHARMACOGNOSY

Macroscopic

Root- paired, occasionally separated due to breakage, ovoid, conical, small

portion of stem sometimes attached, tapering downwards to a point, 2-4.5 cm,

rarely 5 cm long, 0.4-1.8 cm thick, gradually decrease in thickness towards

tapering end; outer surface wrinkled longitudinally and transversely, rough

due to root scars; dark brown to blackish- brown; fracture cartilaginous, hard

and white within the cambium ring and brownish outside cambium; odour

indistinct; taste slightly bitter followed by a strong tingling sensation.

Microscopic

Transverse section of the root shows epidermis 1-3 layered, suberised,

papillose on outside, primary cortex consisting of 8-10 layers of oval to

tangentially elongated, thin walled, parenchymatous cells, without or with a

few intercellular spaces, a few rectangular or triangular stone cells in singles

found scattered in this zone, 92-230 long; primary cortex separated by

distinct endodermis; inner bark parenchymatous, consisting of round to oval

cells, containing a few groups of phloem strands, occupying more than half

the radius; cambium continuous having 6-10 angles; xylem vessels arranged

almost in a ring, some scattered, often forming „V‟ shaped ring, enclosing

478

xylem parenchyma in older portions; bundles compact often wedge-shaped

having acute apex; xylem exarch, metaxylem vessels at the centre; starch

grains mostly with central hilum, simple measuring 6-18 µ in diameter and

compound grains consisting of 2-5 components with hilum, in the center.

Starch grains are present in cortical cells, phloem parenchyma and xylem

parenchyma (Anonymous, 1999; Datta and Mukerji, 1950; Mukerji, 1953;

Bhattacharya, 1961). Powder microscopy

Root powder light grey in colour; shows vessels, a few aseptate fibres and numerous simple and compound starch grains having hilum at the center,

single grain measuring 6-18 in diameter (Anonymous, 1999).

The Drug mounted in nitrocellulose and exposed to u.v. light, some particles

gave light bluish green fluorescence, the bulk of the powder remaining

unaffected (Bhattacharya, 1961).

Physical constants

Total ash - Not more than 5.5%; Acid insoluble ash - Not more than 2%;

Alcohol soluble extractive - Not less than 8%; Water soluble extractive - Not

less than 24% (Anonymous, 1999).

Thin Layer Chromatography

TLC of alcoholic extract of the drug on silica gel „G‟ plate using Chloroform:

Methanol (90:10) shows six spots at Rf. 0.10, 0.20, 0.39, 0.59, 0.74 and 0.96

(all yellow) on exposure to Iodine vapour. On spraying with Dragandorff

reagent two spots appear at Rf. 0.39 and 0.96 (both orange) (Anonymous,

1999).

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Plant: 3(-bikhaconine dichloroethane solvate, 3(-bikhaconine acetone

solvate, 14-o-benzoyl-8-ethoxy-bikhaconine, 4-O-benzoyl-8-ethoxy-

bikhaconine and 14-O-benzoyl-8-methoxy-bikhaconine (Parvez and Gul,

1998).

Root: Indaconitine, chasmaconitine, chasmanthinine, one unidentified

alkaloid-base A (C₂₆H₄₃O₆N) (Achmatowicz and Marion, 1964), chasmanine, lycoctonine, aconitine (Achmatowicz et al., 1965), bikhaconitine,-

lycoctonine, pyrosedaconitine (Klasek et al., 1972; Tsuda and Marion, 1963a), delphinine, bikhaconitine, pseudaconitine, pyropseudaconine,

isopyropseudaconine, pyrobikhaconitine, pyrobikhaconine,

isopyrobikhaconine (Tsuda and Marion, 1963b,c).

479

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Plant was reported to have hypotensive, spasmogenic, hypertensive,

depressant, antidiarrhoeal, antifertility, febrifuge, psychostimulant, CNS

inhibitor and cardiac stimulant activities (Anonymous, 1985; Rastogi and

Mahrotra, 1993; Handa et al., 1951; Asolkar et al., 1992; Anonymous, 2004).

The dried roots were found to be analgesic, anodyne, diaphoretic, diuretic,

irritant and sedative (Chopra et al., 1986).

TOXICOLOGY

This is a very poisonous plant and should only be used with extreme caution

and under the supervision of a qualified practitioner (Worthley, 2002).

Within a few minutes after the oral administration of aconite, marked

symptoms occur. There is a sensation of burning, tingling and numbness in

the mouth, and burning sensation in the stomach. After about an hour there is

severe vomiting. Much more weakness and cutaneous sensations similar to

those above described soon follows. The pulse and respiration steadily fails,

death occurring from asphyxia (Lin et al., 2004; Gupta et al., 1999). The

treatment is to empty the stomach by tube or by a non-depressant emetic. The

physiological antidotes are atropine and digitalin or strophanthin, which

should be injected subcutaneously in maximal doses. Alcohol, strychnine,

and warmth must also be employed (Fitzpatrick et al., 1994).

Aconitine is easily absorbed through the skin, and poisoning may occur

during picking the leaves without the use of gloves; the toxin in the sap is

absorbed through the skin. The sap oozing from picked leaves may cause

cardiac symptoms for a couple of hours. In this event, there will be no

gastrointestinal effects. Tingling will however start at the point of absorption,

and extend up the arm to the shoulder, after which the heart will start to be

affected. The tingling will be followed by numbness. Atropine can be used as

an antidote (Tai et al., 1992; Agarwal et al., 1977).

Aconitine is a potent neurotoxin that blocks tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium

channels. Pretreatment with barakol (10 mg/kg iv) reduces the incidence of

aconitine-induced ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, as well

as mortality. Tetrodotoxin (5.0g/kg iv) also had the same effect. Preventive

effects of barakol are probably due to the prevention of intracellular sodium

ion accumulation (Salgado and Saar, 2004; Chan, 1994).

THERAPEUTIC EVALUATION

A study was conducted on 50 children with post operative pain symptoms. It

was carried out double-blind, the children being given either placebo or

aconite. Aconite proved to be 95% effective for children‟s post-operative

480

agitation. It is usually stated in such studies that the placebo effect is high and

may reach rates higher than 30%. Aconite is an amazing cure when well

prescribed, as much for the speediness of its action as for its efficiency. The

fundamental research could specify how the remedy works and may discover

other molecules effective for stress (Alibeu and Jobert, 1990).

FORMULATIONS AND PREPARATIONS

Taila - Maha vishagarbha taila, Laghu vishagarbha taila, Vranarakshasa

taila.

Vati Gutika- Agnitundi vati, Kasturyadi gutika, Saubhagya vati, Sanjivani

vati.

Parpati - Tamra parpati.

Rasayoga - Laghvananda rasa, Laxminarayana rasa, Hinguleshvara rasa,

Kaphaketu rasa, Tribhuvankirti rasa, Maha Vatagajankush rasa,

Ashvakanchuki rasa, Sutashekhara rasa, Prabhakar rasa, Maha

vatavidhvamsana rasa, Jvarankusha rasa Arshakuthara rasa,

Kanakasundara Rasa, Anandbhairava rasa, Vatavidhwansana rasa,

Mritunjaya rasa, Nagavallabha rasa, Shwaskuthara rasa, Suchikabharana

rasa, Svarnabhupata rasa, Jwarmurari rasa (Anonymous, 1978; 2000).

Other classical formulations - Aindra rasayana (C.S.Ci.1-3.24),

Bhutaravahvaya ghrita (A.H.Ci.21.19).

TRADE AND COMMERCE

No reliable figures are existing about trade of roots. The north-west

Himalayas from Kashmir to Hazara, exporting A. chasmanthum and A.

heterophyllum mainly to Amritsar (Chopra et al., 1958).

Source of Supply - Wild/Forests

Demand 1999-2000 190.7 tonnes

Demand 2004-2005 490.2 tonnes

Average growth rate of demands - 30.0 % per annum

Manufacturers purchase price - Rs. 130 per Kg (Anonymous, 2001-2002).

Retail Market Price - Rs. 225 per Kg (2006).

SUBSTITUTES AND ADULTERANTS

Aconitum balfourii Stapf., A. palmatum D. Don., A. deinorrhizum Stapf., A. ferox Wall, A. laciniatum Stapf., A. luridum Hook. f., A. spicatum Stapf., are

used as substitute (Anonymous, 2000a; Mukerji, 1953; Chopra et al., 1958;

Kirtikar and Basu, 1933). Aconitum balfourii Stapf., A. deinorrhizum Stapf.,

A. falconeri Stapf and Delphinium denudatum Wall are used as an adulterants

(Sharma, 1978; Mehra and Puri, 1967; Mukerji, 1953).

481

PROPAGATION AND CULTIVATION

Plants prefer loamy soil, well dug to loosen the soil particles and to maintain

adequate moisture, to produce a better yield. Plants are propagated through

well-developed tuberous roots, which are planted in the field in the month of

December-January, 30 cm apart (Dutt, 1928). Shady conditions are favorable

in the early stage of development for the overall growth of the plant.

Flowering occurs within a period of 2-3 years in the month of June-July.

Tubers are harvested after flowering, especially in the month of September

(Anonymous, 1985).

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