34 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



As regards physiological action, these two alkaloids show 

 a qualitative agreement with aconitine, japaconitine, and 

 pseudoaconitine. 



Bikhaconitine has a more powerful toxic action on cats and 

 rabbits than indaconitine ; of the alkaloids so far examined, 

 aconitine and indaconitine are about equally poisonous, 

 japaconitine is rather more active than these, but not quite so 

 toxic as bikhaconitine, whilst pseudoaconitine is the most active 

 of the series. Bikhaconitine and indaconitine are equally toxic 

 towards frogs. The greater toxic action of: bikhaconitine 

 towards warm-blooded animals is due to its more powerful 

 depressing effect on the respiration ; the respiratory activity 

 of frogs is also diminished to a greater extent by the former 

 alkaloid. The relative activity of the two alkaloids in abolish- 

 ing the power possessed by nerve-muscle preparations of res- 

 ponding to stimuli, was investigated by immersing the tissues 

 in dilute solutions of the hydrobromides, and it was found 

 that in this respect indaconitine is slightly more active than 

 bikhaconitine. 



The pseud oaconines obtained from the two alkaloids appear 

 to be identical in physiological action, and behave in all respects 

 like the aconine and aconitine. 



J. Theodore Cash and Wydnham R. Dunstan, Proceedings 

 Roy. Soc , 1905). J. Ch. S., Vol X C, pt . II., p. 41. 



26. Actcea spicata. Li.in. h. f.br. I., I. 29. 



Habitat:— Temperate Himalaya 6,000—10,0 >0 ft. Simla, in 

 Narkunda forest ; from Bhutan to Qazara. Sha ly ravines of 



Jaunsar and Tehri-Garhwal. 



Part used • — The root. 



A perennial, more or less pubescent herb, Stems 2-3 ft., 

 erect, usually branched. Leace* 6 12 in., alternate pinnatel} T 

 compound, the pinnules often with 3 leaflets; leaflets ovate- 

 lanceolate, pointed, often lobed, deeply and sharply toothed. 

 Flowers regular, scarcely J in. diam.. white, crowded in short 

 terminal racemes lengthening in fruit. Sepals 4, petal-like, 



