• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2016

Aconitum is a genus of various species of flowering plants that belongs to the Family Ranunculaceae. Most Aconitum sp. have extremely toxic alkaloid substances such as aconitine, mesaconitine and hypaconitine. Among these substances, aconitine can cause fatal cardiotoxicity by activating sodium channels followed by calcium channels in myocardial cells. Even though there have been various therapeutic plans suggested comprising antidotes based on diverse case reports and studies, there is no confirmatory treatment protocol for aconite poisoning. Here, we report an aconite poisoning patient who had refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmia that did not respond to intravenous amiodarone therapies even though they were sustained for over 2 hours, but showed successful recovery following intravenous fat emulsions (IFE) therapy.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 1982

This paper is proposed to describe three new species and four varieties from Cheju Island to central part of Korea in Southern Korea. The new plant taxa are as follows: clematis taeguensis Y. Lee, sp. nov.; Prunus linearipetalus Y. Lee, sp. nov.; Vicia linearifolia Y. Lee, sp. nov.; Clematis brachyura Maxim. var. hexasepala Y. Lee, var. nov.; Ranunculus quelpaertensis(Lev.) Nakai var. albiflorus Y. Lee, var. nov.; Aconitum napiforme Lev. et Vaniot var. albiflorum Y. Lee, var. nov.; Ajuga decumbens Thunb. var. rosa Y. Lee, var. nov.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2008

Purpose: Unrefined tablets prepared from Aconitum tubers are occasionally used in Korean folk medicine. This study defines the potential sources, clinical toxicology, and treatment of aconitine poisoning. Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted in 63 patients in the ED of a tertiary University Hospital with suspected toxicity from an unrefined tablet prepared from Aconitum tubers from 1999 to 2007. Results: A total of 63 cases enrolled included 26 men and 37 women, aged 30 to 86 years. Forty-eight patients ingested aconitine tablets as digestives, 26 tablets on average. After a latent period of 30 to 450 minutes, patients developed a combination of neurologic (87.3%), gastrointestinal (82.5%), cardiopulmonary (41.3%), and other (28.6%) features typical of aconitine poisoning. Initial ECG abnormalities revealed dysrhythmia (61.9%), conduction disturbance (42.9%), and abnormal waveforms (39.7%), with 28.6% of patients having normal ECGs. All patients received supportive treatment or close observation regardless of ingestion amounts. Patients with hypotension or ventricular arrhythmia were treated with inotropic agents or amiodarone. Conclusion: Toxicologic signs and symptoms can occur after the consumption of aconitine tablets, regardless of ingestion amount. The risk occurs because of inadequately processed aconitine roots. This study will provide important data for public education and distribution regulations for Aconitum sp. in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2003

This study was executed by China along with the Tumen river, which formed border of North Korea and China. As a result 91 family, 282 genera, 363 species, 57 variety 4 species, total 424 taxa of vascular plants were identified. The examination area was include the region that had various vegetation such as upper swampy land, seashore dune, a river, a high mountain grassy plain, deciduous tree zone, evergreen coniferous forest zone. The followings are representative plants, which found in an examination area but not in South Korea. Picea koraiensis, Larix gmelini var. principis-ruprechtii, Betula playphylla, Ulmus pumila, Populus koreana, Ledum palustre var. diversipilosum, Rhododendron parvifolium, Salix brachypoda, Phacelurus latifolius, Carex gotoi, Carex capricornis, Calla palustris, Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila, Lilium davuricum, Astragalus membranaceus, Trifolium lupinaster, Ledebourieila seselodeds, Polemonium racemosum, Scutellaria baicalensis, Linnaea borealis, Thladiantha dubia, Inula helenium, Trollius hondoensis, Hypocaeris ciliata, Aconitum kirinense, Aconitum arcuatum, Potentilla viscosa var. macrophylla. And there are 21 rare and endangered species, which Korean Forest Sevice designated, such as Aconitum koreanum, Acorus calamus var. angustatus, Polygonatum stenophyllum, Drosera rotundifolia, Iris setosa, Jeffersonia dubia, Lilium davuricum, Lilium cernum, Paeonia obovata, Penthorum chinense, Phacelurus latifolius, Rosa marretii, Sparganium stoloniferum, Thymus quinquecostatus, Trillium tschonoskii, Utricularia japonica, Tripterospermum japonicum, Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, etc. Especially, plants like, Acanthopanax senticosus, Jeffersonia dubia and Lillum cernum which have high values of ornamental, and medical use are in an extinction crisis. High swampy land was formed to upper stream of Tumen river. It showed representative vegitation, like Carex sp., Scirpus radirans, Eriophorum latifolium. Wetlands plant and a dune plant were mixed in down stream area of Tumen river. On a dune, seashore plants, such as Carex kobomugi, Salsola collina, Raphanus sativus var. raphanistroides, Rosa rugosa, Scutellaria strigillosa, Linaria japonica, Phacelurus latifolius were appeared frequently.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2000

The enantiomers of higenamine were directly separated by high performance liquid chromatography using a chiral stationary phase and detected by UV. The R- and S-isomers of higenamine were eluted at the retention time of 22 min and 27 min, respectively. Higenamine was determined to be present as R-(+)-enantiomer not only in the embryo of Nelumbo nucifera, from which the separation of R-(+)-higenamine was reported, but also in various Aconite roots, from which higenamine was separated as optically inert racemic mixtures.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 1998

Higenamine is known as a cardiotonic principle of Aconiti tuber. The analytical procedures were established for the detection of higenamine in plants. The amounts of higenamine in several Aconiti tubers and the embryo of Nelumbo nucifera, another plant species known to contain higenamine, were determined. The $H_2O$ soluble fraction prepared from MeOH extract was first treated with AD-2 resin and then applied to either HPLC or GC/MSD systems. With HPLC, $6.4{\sim}19.2\;{\mu}g/g$ of higenamine were detected from various Aconiti tubers and $182.3\;{\mu}g/g$ of higenamine from the embryo of Nelumbo nucifera. The results obtained with GC/MSD also provided comparable data with those obtained with HPLC.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.104-123
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• 2002

The flora survey on Chungnyeongsan and Seorisan was conducted 6 times from 1998 to 2000.817 taxa such as 112 families 415 genera 688 species 1 subspecies 116 varieties 12 forma were recorded. Dominant species in investigated areas was Quercus mongozica and some deciduous broad-leaved species, such as Quercus sp., Acer sp., Fraxinus sp., Carpinus sp., etc. were codominant species in these areas. Pinus koraiensis and Larix teptozepis plantations were also found in these areas. The 16 taxa of rare plants protected by Forestry Service were found in these areas and among them 10 taxa were new populations which had not been recorded in these areas. Discovery of Erunthis stellata, Aconitum koreanum, Paeonia japonica, Scopotia japonica and Acunthopanax senticosus populations indicate that these areas could be regarded as very important one in a biogeographical aspect. Endemic plants were listed 35 taxa and among them 22 taxa including Corydalis maculata, Ulmus macrocarpa, Scrophutaria horuiensis, Cirsium setidens, etc. were new one. Naturalized plants were listed 39 taxa and among them 30 taxa were new one. Lower naturalized index(NI) and higher urbanized index(UI) were recorded compared to those of neighbored areas. There were many kinds of threatening factors fur the plant resources in survey areas, so it is necessary to limit the number of visitors and to introduce the natural relaxation system.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 1990

Aconiti Tuber is the root of Aconitum sp (Ranunclaceae) which has been considered as one of the most important medicinal plant having cordiotonic, diuretic and analgesic effect. On the other hand, it has been known that Aconiti Tuber contained toxic agent, aconitine alkaloids so that only processed Aconiti Tubers have been used as herbal drug traditionally. For the safety evaluation of processed Aconiti Tuber, quantitative determination of aconitine and acute, subacute toxicity test were performed on 5 commercial processed Aconiti Tubers. Arapid and precise method using HPLC has been developed for the separation and determination of aconitine. Samples were extracted with hydrochloric acid (pH3) and hot water decoction. In case of d-HCL extracts, the contents of aconitine were from 0.08 mg/g to trace. But in case of hot water decoction extracts, the contents of aconitine were not detected. For the investigation of Aconiti Tuber toxicity in rats, hot water decoction samples and methanol extracts were tested. 1) Acute toxicity test Hot water decoction sample and methanol extracts from Aconiti Tuber did not show any toxic effects in rats by an oral administration. $LD_50values of 2 extracts were above 10.0 g/kg. 2) Subacute toxicity study In the repeated administration study, hot water decoction samples were given orally to Sprague-Dawlay rats for 2 week at daily doses of 5.0 g/kg. The results are as follows; No toxic manifestation, body weight changes and lethality were observed during wxperimental period. There were no significant changes in serum enzyme activities such as GOT, GPT, LDH, ALP between treated and control groups. However CPK values were decreased in the Subuja-treated group. (P<0.01). In addition, no gross and microscopic changes were noted in Aconiti Tuber-treated groups.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 2024

This case report highlights the efficacy of traditional Korean medicine in treating chronic levator ani syndrome. A 47-year-old male suffered from chronic anorectal pain for 14 years. Over the last 5 months, the severity and frequency of the pain increased, and he was unresponsive to Western medicine and acupuncture outside Korea. The patient reported moderate anorectal pain from early morning until midday, affecting daily efficiency and concentration. The pain was triggered by defecation and alleviated by lying down. He was diagnosed with levator ani syndrome related to "cold symptoms of the liver and kidney - Yin", for which modified Nangan-jeon was prescribed. Indirect moxibustion (CV4, Ki1), Aconitum ciliare Decaisne pharmacopuncture (GV1, BL33), and acupuncture (HT7, ST36, SP6, LR3, LI4) were also administered weekly. After 8 weeks, the anorectal pain decreased by 2 points on a numeric rating scale, leading to patient satisfaction and return to his home country.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.76-88
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• 2011

The flora of vascular plants in the mountains located in the Uiryeong-gun area, in the South province of the Korean Peninsula, such as Jagul-san(897.1 m), 676 Highland(676 m), Byeokhwa-san(522 m), and the Bangeo-san(530.4 m), was investigated between April 2008 and August 2009. These investigations found 580 taxa consisting of 496 species, 1 subspecies, 77 varieties, and 6 forms, found within 319 genera under 103 families. The count totaled at 744 taxa(16.2% of all vascular plant taxa in Korea), which was made up of 648 species, 3 subspecies, 81 varieties, and 12 forms, found within of 362 genera under 109 families, when voucher specimens from the previous research studies were added. Forests of the investigated areas were generally composed of mixed Pinus densiflora and Quercus sp. The areas with comparatively excellent vegetation were the valley neighboring Baekun-sa(temple) (in the eastern slope of Mt. Jagul-san), the southwest slope of Mt. 676 Highland, the eastern slope of Mt. Byeokhwa-san, and the northern slope of Mt. Bangeo-san. 10 families were collected in abundance: Compositae, Graminae, Leguminosae, Liliaceae, Rosaceae, Cyperaceae, Labiatae, Polygonaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Violaceae these families made up 50% of all collected taxa. 19 taxa were endemic to the area, including Salix hallaisanensis H.Lev, S. koriyanagi Kimura, Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz, A. pseudolaeve Nakai, Clematis trichotoma Nakai, Thalictrum uchiyamai Nakai, Stewartia pseudocamellia Maxim, Philadelphus schrenkii Rupr., Lespedeza ${\times}$ robusta Nakai, Vicia chosenensis Ohwi, Euonymus trapococca Nakai, and Angelica cartilagino-marginata var. distans(Nakai) Kitag. Eight of the taxa were rare and endangered plants, as designated by the Korea Forest Service, including Jeffersonia dubia(Maxim.) Baker & S. Moore and Viola diamantiaca Nakai. 38 taxa of alien plants were found. Vegetation of the surveyed areas falls in the South province of the Korean Peninsula. Of all the taxa collected, 463 taxa(10.06% of all vascular plants in Korea) are considered useful plants, 231 taxa are edible, 193 taxa have medicinal uses, 65 taxa are used ornamentally, 234 taxa are important forage, 3 taxa are used as an industrial raw material, 17 taxa are used for timber, 18 taxa contain useful dyes, and 7 taxa are used for fiber.