Aconiti tuber increases plasma nitrite and nitrate levels in humans

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2005-01, Vol.96 (1), p.165-169
• Main Authors: Yamada, Kazuo, Suzuki, Eiji, Nakaki, Toshio, Watanabe, Shigeru, Kanba, Shigenobu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aconiti tuber; Aconitum; Aconitum carmichaeli Debeaux; Aconitum carmichaelii; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; blood plasma; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - therapeutic use; Female; General pharmacology; herbal medicines; Humans; Japanese traditional medicine; Kampo medicine; Male; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; Medicine, Kampo; Middle Aged; Nitrate; nitrates; Nitrates - blood; nitric oxide; Nitric oxide (NO); Nitric Oxide - blood; Nitrite; nitrites; Nitrites - blood; Oriental traditional medicine; Peripheral uncomfortable feeling of cold (“ hie”); Peripheral Vascular Diseases - drug therapy; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations - therapeutic use; Ranunculaceae; vasodilation
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2004.09.028

Some herbal medicines, including Aconiti tuber ( Aconitum carmichaeli Debeaux, Ranunculaceae), have been recognized as being effective for the treatment of a “peripheral uncomfortable feeling of cold ( hie)”. We hypothesized that these compounds affect peripheral vascular function via the nitric oxide (NO) system, which leads to recovery from “ hie”. To answer this question, we investigated Aconiti tuber-induced changes in plasma levels of nitrite (p-NO 2 −) and nitrate (p-NO 3 −), final nitric oxide-oxidation products measurable in vivo. After written informed consent was obtained, patients suffering from “ hie” were treated with several kinds of kampo (Japanese traditional herbal medicine), selected on the basis of traditional theory. Twenty-four patients took kampo formulas, some included Aconiti tuber ( n = 11; A-group) and others did not ( n = 13; C-group), for 4 weeks. p-NO 2 − and p-NO 3 − levels were measured before the start and after 4 weeks of treatment. In the A-group, the p-NO 2 − plus p-NO 3 − (p-NO x ) level was significantly increased at 4 weeks ( p = 0.04), while that of the C-group was not. There was a statistically significant increase in the p-NO x level of the A-group as compared to the C-group (d.f. = 1,22, F = 9.38, p = 0.006). The results suggest that Aconiti tuber may increase NO production in humans.