Cardiotoxicity after accidental herb-induced aconite poisoning

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 340; no. 8830; pp. 1254 - 1256
• Main Authors: Tai, Y-T., Lau, C-P., Young, K., But, P.P-H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 21.11.1992; Lancet; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Accidents; Aconitum - poisoning; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular disease; Child; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - adverse effects; Female; Heart Diseases - chemically induced; Herbs; Humans; Ingestion; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Plant poisons toxicology; Poisoning; Toxicology; Heart; Case study; Human; Toxicity; Acute; Heart disease; Cardiovascular disease; Review
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)92951-B

Aconitine and its related alkaloids are known cardiotoxins with no therapeutic role in modern western medicine. The rootstocks of Aconitumplants, which contain aconite alkaloids, have been common components of Chinese herbal recipes. We have documented life-threatening intoxication in 17 Chinese subjects after accidental herb-induced aconite poisoning. All patients developed symptoms of aconite toxicity within 2 h of herb ingestion. Most developed tachyarrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation from which 2 patients died. Toxicological evaluation revealed that aconites from the Aconitum rootstocks were the only plausible casual factor for intoxication. These cases point to the need for strict surveillance of herbal substances with low safety margins.