ACONITUM 



173 



root. This is white, usually amorphous, but with difficulty may 

 be obtained in rhombic, tabular crystals; almost insoluble in cold 

 water, soluble in alcohol, ether, and diluted acids. Other related 

 principles exist in the drug combined with aconitic acid (H 3 C 6 H 3 O6), 

 but our knowledge of them is not satisfactory. The crystallized alka- 

 loid melts at 189 to i9OC., and yields acetic acid at slightly higher 

 temperature. 



Pseudaconitine, CseH^gNO^, from Aconitum ferox, is highly poison- 

 ous. Atisine, C22HsiNO2 (from Aconitum heterophyllum), does not 



FIG. 78. Powdered Aconite Tuber. (100 diam.) A, Stone cells. B, Fragments of water tubes. 

 C, Parenchyma, cross-section. D, Parenchyma, longitudinal section. E, Starch. 



present any close analogy to the alkaloids of the other and well-known 

 species of aconite (A. napellus, A. ferox, and A. japonicum). In 

 small doses it is said to be non- toxic, but its action, according to some 

 reports, resembles that of aconite. 



Commercial aconitine contains some of the allied principles, which 

 are separated from the alkaloid with difficulty. Ash, not exceeding 

 6 per cent. 



Preparation of Aconitine. After extracting oil and resin by a suitable solvent, 

 an alcoholic extract is made which is treated with hot water. The aqueous 

 solution is precipitated by adding NH 4 OH in excess. This precipitate is exhausted 

 with ether ethereal solution distilled to dryness. Purify residue by dissolving 

 in acidulated (H 2 SO4) water, again precipitating with NH 4 OH, etc. This process 

 yields a commercial product which is not free from pseudoaconitine. 



ACTION AND USES. Antipyretic to a certain extent by reducing circulation; 

 depressant of the sensory nerve-ends, the heart, the respiration, and 

 spinal system. It relaxes the inhibitory apparatus of the heart, and 

 paralyzes the cardiac muscle and its contained ganglia, the respira- 

 tory centers, and the spinal cord in all its functions sensory, reflex, 



