Comparison of a specific HPLC determination of toxic aconite alkaloids in processed Radix aconiti with a titration method of total alkaloids

Figures & data

Figure 1.  The main toxic Aconitum diterpene alkaloids.

Figure 2.  Decomposition of aconitine during processing of Aconitum drugs.

Table 1.  Origin of investigated aconite roots.

Code	Simplified code for HPLC analyses
Zhicaowu—Aconiti kusnezoffi praeparata
37951	B3 (EDQM)
37747	B4 (EDQM)
—	B6 (Hong Kong Baptist University)
Zhichuanwu (Shanxi)—Aconiti praeparata (radix)
32969	D1 (EDQM)
—	D2 (Hong Kong Baptist University)
Aconiti carmichaeli radix praeparata/Aconiti radix praeparata
28479	E1 (EDQM)
36890	E2 (EDQM)
Shanghai market—Aconiti radix praeparata/Aconiti radix lateralis praeparata
37271	F2—2003
37270	F3—2004
37269	F4—2005
37275	F5—2008
37272	F6—2009
German market—Aconiti radix praeparata/Aconiti radix lateralis praeparata
37276	G1—2004
37265	G2—2004
37263	G4—2007
37266	G5—2007

Table 2.  Content of alkaloids determined by titration and by HPLC analysis of toxic alkaloids (sum of mesaconitine, aconitine, and hypaconitine).

Code	HPLC (%)	Titration (%)
Radix aconiti kusnezoffii praeparata
B3	Not detectable	0.065
B4	0.007	0.013
B6	Not detectable	0.194
Radix aconiti carmichaeli praeparata/Radix aconiti lateralis praeparata
D1	0.054	0.207
D2	Not detectable	0.120
E1	0.013	0.062
E2	0.162	0.433
F2	Not detectable	0.045
F3	Not detectable	0.103
F4	Not detectable	0.123
F5	0.125	0.342
F6	Not detectable	0.070
G1	0.003	0.113
G2	0.026	0.129
G4	0.043	0.097
G5	0.011	0.116

Figure 3.  HPLC chromatogram of the extract prepared from a crude aconite root sample.

Figure 4.  Correlation of the alkaloid contents by HPLC quantification and titration.