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Article: Method for determination of aconitum alkaloids in dietary supplements and raw botanical materials granted AOAC Official Method[SM] status.(For Your Information)(Report)
- Article from:
- Journal of AOAC International
- Article date:
- January 1, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 AOAC International. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The diester-diterpene Aconitum alkaloids, viz. aconitine, hypaconitine, and mesaconitine, are highly toxic compounds and commonly present in the aconite roots such as Radix aconiti (Chuanwu), Radix aconiti kusnezoffii (Caowu), and Radix aconiti lateralis (Fuzi; see figure). Many dietary supplements for enhancing circulation, restoring health, and relieving pain contain processed aconite roots, and thus the Aconitum alkaloids. Proper processing by heating, steaming, and soaking of the aconite roots can hydrolyze the highly toxic diester-diterpene Aconitum alkaloids to compounds of much lower toxicity, e.g., benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine, and benzoylhypaconine. ...