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Acanthamoeba spp. are widely distributed in the environment and cause serious infections in humans. Treatment of Acanthamoeba infections is very challenging and not always effective which requires the development of more efficient drugs against Acanthamoeba spp. The purpose of the present study was to test medicinal plants that may be useful in the treatment of Acanthamoeba spp. Here we evaluated the trophozoital and cysticidal activity of 13 flavonoid glycosides isolated from Delphinium gracile, D. staphisagria, Consolida oliveriana and from Aconitum napellus subsp. Lusitanicum against the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii. AlamarBlue Assay Reagent® was used to determine the activity against trophozoites of A. castellanii, and cytotoxic using Vero cells. Cysticidal activity was assessed on treated cysts by light microscopy using a Neubauer chamber to quantify cysts and trophozoites. Flavonoids 1, 2, 3 and 4 showed higher trophozoital activity and selectivity indexes than the reference drug chlorhexidine digluconate. In addition, flavonoid 2 showed 100% cysticidal activity at a concentration of 50 μm, lower than those of the reference drug and flavonoid 3 (100 μm). These results suggest that flavonoids 2 and 3 might be used for the development of novel therapeutic approaches against Acanthamoeba infections after satisfactory in vivo evaluations.

As general awareness for using herbal drugs in today’s health practice is increasing, the world is endorsing extraordinary increase in the consumption of herbal products. This increase in the demand has led to consumers’ dissatisfaction due to substandard products, making the herbal market risky. There is need to set standard that will help to evaluate herbal drugs to ensure formulation of high quality products. The present investigation is conducted to evaluate the physiochemical measures of accessible mother tinctures from Aconitum napellus, Kalmia latifolia, Crataegus monogyna, Atropa belladonna and Digitalis purpurea. Mother tinctures were collected from five manufacturers in Pakistan and evaluated for physiochemical parameters, % alcohol contents, weight in dry/ml, % non-volatile matter and pH. World synchronization, following WHO specific guidelines for herbal products standardization is needed. Also, regulation should be endorsed to control herbal market adoption of WHO guideline. Key words: Herbal drugs, standardization, quality control, Aconitum napellus, Kalmia latifolia, Crataegus monogyna, Atropa Belladonna, Digitalis purpurea.

Background Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent that affect millions of people worldwide.Homeopathic system is gaining popularity due to its efficacy in chronic diseases. Ultra-diluted Aconitum napellus is a homeopathic medicine used by clinicians for treatment of acute anxiety. Aim Objective of this study is to test the efficacy of Aconite on experimental anxiety models of Wistar rats. Methodology 18 Female Wistar rats were divided into Control, Anxiety, and Anxiety + Aconite (ANX+ACO) groups. Acute stress was induced by restraining the rats for six hours daily for five days in Anxiety and ANX + ACO groups. After five days of stress, a single dose of Aconite 200cH was given to ANX + ACO group through oral gavage, whereas control and anxiety group rats were maintained with a normal diet. Following this, behavioral assessment was done. Histological sections of the hippocampal area were taken and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin and also Cresyl violet stain.Results It was observed that the Aconite treated group had more number of entries and also the percentage of time spent in the open arm was higher than the stressed anxiety group. Histological study of the brain tissue procured from all three groups was analyzed. Conclusion It was inferred that ultra-diluted homeopathic Aconite has decreased anxiety in Wistar rats which were subjected to acute restrain stress. However, the decrease was not statistically significant to deduce Aconite as an anxiolytic

ZusammenfassungEs wird ein Fall dargestellt, der aufzeigt, wie verschiedene Ansätze zur Mittelfindung ineinandergreifen, um den Fall zu lösen. Im Zentrum steht dabei ein Trauma.

The Vienna-born writer, Gustav Meyrink, has produced many works on fantastic topics. His novels such as Der Golem and Der Engel vom westlichen Fenster have been translated into Turkish. The name of the work we dealt with in this study is the story called Der Kardinal Napellus. This story tells us about the religious change that a monk named Radspieller experienced. In this study, the story of extraordinary events and religious issues are handled in the context of the works of Mircea Eliade. In the first part of the study, concepts such as hierophany and sacred and profane are tried to be explained. In the section in which the work is analysed, it is concluded that aconitum napellus plant, which is effective in the transition of Radspieller from a sacred life to a profane life, can be defined as a hierophany, and plays an important role for the initiation.

Although we are familiar with common British plants that are poisonous, such as Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade) and Aconitum napellus (monkshood), the two most poisonous plants in the British Flora are Oenanthe crocata (dead man's fingers) and Cicuta virosa (cowbane). In recent years their poisons have been shown to be polyacetylenes (n-C2H2). The plants closely resemble two of the most common plants in the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), celery and parsley. Unwittingly, they are ingested by naive foragers and death occurs very rapidly. The third plant Anamirta derives from South-East Asia and contains a powerful convulsant, picrotoxin, which has been used from time immemorial to catch fish, and more recently to poison Birds of Paradise. All three poisons have been shown to block the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system in the human brain that normally has a powerful inhibitory neuronal action. It has also been established that two groups of sedative drugs, barbiturates and benzodiazepines, exert their inhibitory action by stimulating the GABA system. These drugs are the treatments of choice for poisoning by the three vicious plants.

In the novel "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco, a fanatical monk laced the pages of a book with a poison, which led to the death of several monks in a medieval monastery. Based on modern toxicological knowledge, an attempt can be made to determine whether there exists a substance meeting the criteria of the poison described in the novel. To this end, toxicological literature on the lethal doses of plant-derived poisons and their duration of action was reviewed. Cowbane (Cicuta virosa), a plant used for preparing poisonous potions, contains cicutoxin which kills at a dose of 500 mg. Similar toxicity is displayed by water dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) and Cerbera odollam growing in India and Madagascar. Hemlock (Conium maculatum) contains coniine which is able to kill a victim after exposure to a dose as low as 100 to 200 mg. Morphine found in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and colchicine contained in autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) produce lethal effects at similar doses. So do more exotic plants such as Calabar bean (Physostigma venenosum) which contains physostygmine. Two other exotic plants that need to be mentioned in this context are far more poisonous. They include Saint Ignatius's bean (Strychnos ignatii) and strychnine tree (Strychnos nux-vomica). Both contain strychnine, the lethal dose of which is 30 mg. Death cap (Amanita phalloides) might also be considered in this context, but despite being lethal at a dose of 20 mg, amanitin contained in this fungus takes a few days to kill a victim, so the effect is considerably slower than that experienced by the monks in Eco's novel. A dose of 10 mg is sufficient to kill a human with any of four other plant-derived poisons: antiarin, atropine, digoxin and strophantin. Aconitum (Aconitum napellus), also known as monkshood, contains aconitine and is an even more deadly plant, with the lethal dose for humans being only 2 mg. Ricin and abrin are ranked even higher in the list of plant-derived toxins, as they are able to kill in doses lower than 1 mg. However, they could not have been used by the murderer in "The Name of the Rose", as they cause death only several days after ingestion. To conclude, the plant that best matches the criteria mentioned in the novel is Aconitum.W powieści Umberto Eco „Imię róży" fanatyczny mnich zatruwa karty księgi, co powoduje śmierć kilku zakonników średniowiecznego klasztoru. Korzystając ze współczesnej wiedzy toksykologicznej, można spróbować ustalić, czy istnieje substancja spełniająca kryteria trucizny pojawiającej się w fabule książki. Poniżej przeanalizowano piśmiennictwo toksykologiczne w zakresie śmiertelnych dawek trucizn roślinnych oraz czasu ich działania. Szalej jadowity, z którego sporządzano cykutę, zawiera cykutoksynę zabijającą w dawce 500 mg. Podobną toksyczność mają kropidło szafranowe oraz cerbera złocista rosnąca w Indiach i na Madagaskarze. Szczwół plamisty zawiera koniinę zabijającą w dawce 100–200 mg. W podobnych ilościach zabija morfina zawarta w maku lekarskim i kolchicyna z zimowitu jesiennego, a z bardziej egzotycznych roślin – bób kalabarski zawierający fizostygminę. Dużo bardziej trujące są egzotyczne bób świętego Ignacego i kulczyba wronie oko zawierające strychninę, której dawka śmiertelna to 30 mg. Kolejne miejsce pod względem toksyczności zajmuje muchomor sromotnikowy – zawarta w nim amanityna zabija w dawce 20 mg, ale dopiero po kilku dniach, a zatem działa dużo wolniej niż substancja zatruwająca mnichów. W dawce 10 mg zabijają antiarin, atropina, digoksyna i strofantyna. Bardziej zabójczym zielem jest tojad mocny zawierający akonitynę (łac. Aconitum napellus), której dawka śmiertelna dla człowieka to zaledwie 2 mg. Jeszcze groźniejsze na liście roślinnych toksyn są rycyna i abryna, zabijające już w dawce mniejszej od miligrama, jednak można je wykluczyć, bo śmierć następuje dopiero po kilku dniach od spożycia. Wniosek: rośliną, która spełnia kryteria trucizny wykorzystanej w powieści jest tojad mocny.

In spite of high toxicological risk Aconitum napellus (ACON) is tremendously used for the treatment of rheumatoid and joint pain. The acute toxicity study was assessed for cow milk treated (CMT), g...

A toxic plant is a plant that when touched or ingested in sufficient quantity can be harmful or fatal to man or other animals. When used in small amounts and correct proportions, these plants can be used as herbal drugs with medicinal properties. According to official sources from several countries, injurious and poisonous plants are responsible for many cases of intoxications worldwide. The beauty of these plants hides their toxicity and the unawareness potentiates these situations. Therefore, this bibliographic revision is about examples of some plants associated with poisoning but used for their medicinal properties, focusing on species with anticholinergic poisons (Atropa belladonna L., Datura stramonium L., Hyoscyamus niger L.), with calcium oxalate crystals (Philodendron spp.), with cardiac glycosides (Digitalis purpurea L.), with convulsant poisons and with nicotine-like alkaloids (Conium maculatum L., Nicotiana glauca Graham), with mitotic inhibitors (Catharanthus roseus L., Colchicum autumnale L.), with pyrrolizidine alkaloids (Senecio vulgaris L.), with sodium channel activators (Aconitum napellus L., Rhododendron spp.), with cyanogenic compounds (Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser.), and with toxalbumins (Abrus precatorius L., Ricinus communis L.). The knowledge about toxic plants is still insufficient and makes it so important to characterize some species that cause intoxication and lethality in humans.

The present study was designed to explore the neuroprotective properties of Aconitum napellus (Ranunculaceae). The plant detoxification was done using either water, or cow or goat milk as per the Ayurvedic shodhana method. The evaluation of the neuroprotective role of A. napellus was performed on diabetic neuropathy induced by streptozotocin in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Body mass, blood sugar level, oral glucose tolerance test, hyperalgesia, cold allodynia, motor co-ordination test, and locomotor activity, oxidative biomarkers (TBARS, reduced glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase) and sciatic nerve histomorphology were assessed. The in vitro studies were done on human neuroblastoma cell line SHSY-5Y and used an MTT assay to assess the antiproliferative activity of different extracts. Results suggest that the goat milk treated chloroform extract has less percentage of aconitine. After administration of the detoxified chloroform extract to the diabetic animals, there was a significant improvement in the myelination and degenerative changes of the nerve fibers along with behavioral changes (p &lt, 0.05 as compared with diabetic control group). The findings of the in vitro research show an effective neuroprotective role of A. napellus. This suggests that A. napellus should be further investigated for its effect in diabetic pathology.

Many plants require animal pollinators for successful reproduction; these plants provide pollinator resources in pollen and nectar (rewards) and attract pollinators by specific cues (signals). In a seeming contradiction, some plants produce toxins such as alkaloids in their pollen and nectar, protecting their resources from ineffective pollinators. We investigated signals and rewards in the toxic, protandrous bee-pollinated plant Aconitum napellus, hypothesizing that male-phase flower reproductive success is pollinator-limited, which should favour higher levels of signals (odours) and rewards (nectar and pollen) compared with female-phase flowers. Furthermore, we expected insect visitors to forage only for nectar, due to the toxicity of pollen. We demonstrated that male-phase flowers emitted more volatile molecules and produced higher volumes of nectar than female-phase flowers. Alkaloids in pollen functioned as chemical defences, and were more diverse and more concentrated compared to the alkaloids in nectar. Visitors actively collected little pollen for larval food but consumed more of the less-toxic nectar. Toxic pollen remaining on the bee bodies promoted pollen transfer efficiency, facilitating pollination.

This work describes the isolation and structure elucidation of two new acylated quercetin tetraglycosides (compounds 1 and 2) from Delphinium gracile and their antiparasitic study with other twelve compounds from D. gracile (compounds 3–8), D. staphisagria (compound 9), Consolida oliveriana (compounds 10–12) and Aconitum napellus subsp. Lusitanicum (compounds 13–14). The in vitro results against the extracellular and intracellular stages of three Leishmania spp. and T. cruzi showed that all the compounds tested had selectivity indexes higher than that of the reference drug benznidazole (BZN) against T. cruzi. However, they had higher effectiveness as antileishmanicidal agents and some of them met the standards for the three Leishmania species and had a higher selectivity index than the reference drug (glucantime). The changes in metabolite excretion by 1H NMR and the ultrastructural alterations by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) from treated parasites revealed that the severe modifications generated in organelles such as glycosomes or mitochondria by the compounds could be the ultimate reasons for the alterations detected in the differences of the excretion products of all the species. The activity, stability, low cost of starting materials, and straightforward synthesis make flavonoid derivatives appropriate molecules for the developing of an affordable anti-leishmanicidal agent.

Objective Description of a fatal case of aconite poisoning after ingestion of leaves of Aconitum napellus, documented by the dosages of 3 aconite alkaloids on various matrices in a deceased patient. Case history After accidental ingestion of aconite plant as a Couscouil salad, a 78-years-old man with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and his wife felt buccal paraesthesia and numbness. Quickly, these symptoms become widespread. The man finally admitted in reanimation unit where he developed cardiovascular decompensation on acute arrhythmia and deceased. To confirm the aconite toxidrome, several samples were collected from the wife and the deceased patient. Methods Large screenings of drugs and toxics were performed on blood samples. An aconite specific and sensitive LCMSMS (3200 QTrap, ABSciex) method was developed to determine aconite alkaloids aconitine (A), hypaconitine (H) and mesaconitine (M). Clinical and autopsy samples were analysed after precipitation with methanol [1] , [2] . Bile and urine were hydrolysed before extraction. The limit of quantitation was 1 ng/mL for A, H and M. Results The toxicological findings were only amiodarone, lidocaine (intensive care) and metformin in non-toxic level in the fatal case. Aconitine was the only alkaloid found in all samples, with traces only for the wife. Measured concentrations in autopsy samples are presented in Table 1 . Discussion The concentration of A measured in peripheral blood was higher than those reported in other aconitine-related deaths [2] , even if the digestive absorption might have not been finished. The heart/peripheral concentrations ratio is about 3, which is in accordance to the heart accumulation and the cardiotoxicity of the compound. The concentrations of A in spleen, lung and heart were similar (about 4-fold the peripheral blood). In contrast, diffusion in skeletal muscle was close to blood distribution (34.2 ng/mL). Both diffusion in brain and vitreous humor represented half of blood. Unchanged and conjugated A forms seemed to be low compared to the blood concentrations and the other published cases despite liver and kidney distributions, suggesting a potential renal impairment during resuscitation cares. As another French intoxication case, H and M were not found, may be because of a lack of these compounds in the French species of Aconite. Blood A concentration above 30 ng/mL seems to be lethal even with appropriate cares. Conclusion In France, toxicological investigation should focus only on A in peripheral blood, and if not available postmortem distribution must be taken into account. Vitreous humor could have an interest.

Masterwort (Peucedanum ostruthium, syn. Imperatoria ostruthium, Apiaceae) is an old economic plant in Alpine countries cultivated as ornamental plant and used for spirits and in folk medicine. P. ostruthium is a species that has often been confused with related Apiaceae species or morphologically similar roots or tubers resulting in products of minor quality. Masterwort can be distinguished from other Apiaceae species by nrDNA (ITS1 and ITS2). The analysed chloroplast markers (trnK 5' intron, trnT-trnL, and psbA-trnH), however, showed no species-specific mutations. With the application of two primer pairs amplifying parts of ITS and developed for high-resolution melting curve analysis (HRM) the target species was distinguishable from the other Peucedanum and Apiaceae species of our reference set. A multiplex PCR/HRM was developed to detect adulterations with Gentiana spp., Aconitum napellus and Veratrum album.

Plants produce a large array of specialized metabolites to protect themselves. Among these allelochemicals, alkaloids display highly diverse and complex structures that are directly related to their biological activities. Plant alkaloid profiling traditionally requires extensive and time-consuming sample preparation and analysis. Herein, we developed a rapid and efficient approach for the comprehensive profiling of alkaloids in plants using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS)-based metabolomics. Using automated compound extraction and elemental composition assignment, our method achieved >83% correct alkaloid identification and even >90% for medium to high intensity peaks. This represented a significant improvement in identification rate compared to generic methods used for EC determination with no a priori, such as in untargeted metabolomics studies. The developed approach was then applied to identify specific alkaloids of Aconitum lycoctonum L. and A. napellus L. (Ranunculaceae) using different parts of the plant (leaf, perianth and pollen). Significant differences in alkaloid profiles between the two species were highlighted and discussed under taxonomic and evolutionary perspectives. Taken together, the presented approach constitutes a valuable chemotaxonomic tool in the search for known and unknown alkaloids from plants.

Background Aconitum species are poisonous plants that have been used in Western medicine for centuries. In the nineteenth century, these plants were part of official and folk medicine in the Slovenian territory. According to current ethnobotanical studies, folk use of Aconitum species is rarely reported in Europe. The purpose of this study was to research the folk medicinal use of Aconitum species in Solčavsko, Slovenia; to collect recipes for the preparation of Aconitum spp., indications for use, and dosing; and to investigate whether the folk use of aconite was connected to poisoning incidents. Methods In Solčavsko, a remote alpine area in northern Slovenia, we performed semi-structured interviews with 19 informants in Solčavsko, 3 informants in Luče, and two retired physicians who worked in that area. Three samples of homemade ethanolic extracts were obtained from informants, and the concentration of aconitine was measured. In addition, four extracts were prepared according to reported recipes. Results All 22 informants knew of Aconitum spp. and their therapeutic use, and 5 of them provided a detailed description of the preparation and use of “voukuc”, an ethanolic extract made from aconite roots. Seven informants were unable to describe the preparation in detail, since they knew of the extract only from the narration of others or they remembered it from childhood. Most likely, the roots of Aconitum tauricum and Aconitum napellus were used for the preparation of the extract, and the solvent was homemade spirits. Four informants kept the extract at home; two extracts were prepared recently (1998 and 2015). Three extracts were analyzed, and 2 contained aconitine. Informants reported many indications for the use of the extract; it was used internally and, in some cases, externally as well. The extract was also used in animals. The extract was measured in drops, but the number of drops differed among the informants. The informants reported nine poisonings with Aconitum spp., but none of them occurred as a result of medicinal use of the extract. Conclusions In this study, we determined that folk knowledge of the medicinal use of Aconitum spp. is still present in Solčavsko, but Aconitum preparations are used only infrequently.

Objective To evaluate the effects of homoeopathic ultrahigh dilutions of Aconitum napellus in Baker's yeast-induced fever in rabbits. Methods Rabbits were divided into 4 groups and each group contained 6 rabbits. Baker's yeast suspension (20%) was injected subcutaneously. After fever induction, paracetamol and homoeopathic ultrahigh dilutions (A. napellus 200c and 1 000c) were given orally. Rectal temperature was measured with digital thermometer hourly. Results Fever was induced in all the rabbits after 4 hours of Baker's yeast administration. A. napellus 200c and 1000c significantly reduced the temperature (P > 0.05). In positive control, temperature decrease was more significant (P > 0.001). Conclusion The above findings indicate the effectiveness of ultrahigh dilutions of A. napellus in Baker's yeast-induced fever in rabbits. However, the effects were slower and less significant than standard medicine. Moreover, future research is required to know their mechanism of reducing temperature.

The variability of six enzymes in pure and mixed populations of Aconitum napellus and A. variegatum, both from the Tatra Mountains was analysed by means of electrophoresis on starch and polyacrylamide gels. The enzymes differentiating the studied species are: glutamate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, esterases and peroxidases. A group of plants was isolated with phenotypes intermediate between A. napellus and A. variegatum. Among them were most probably both F1 and introgressive hybrids.

The diester-diterpene alkaloid aconitine was quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in post-mortem specimens of three cases where suicidal ingestion of Aconitum napellus L. (´monkshood´) was supposed. In an attempt at rationalization, sample preparation and chromatographic conditions of plasma/serum drug analysis routine were utilized. Linearity was established from 0.5 to 20 µg L(-1) using newborn calf serum (NCS) as a surrogate calibration matrix for all sample types and mesaconitine as an internal standard. Validation (selectivity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, recovery of the extraction procedure, matrix effect, processed sample stability) confirmed the applicability of the analytical method to various post-mortem matrices. Internal standard selection was based on multi-matrix process efficiency data. In human post-mortem peripheral blood a lower limit of quantification of 0.51 µg L(-1) and a limit of detection of 0.13 µg L(-1) were accomplished (0.1 ml sample aliquots). Aconitine was degraded to a large extent in different sample types when being stored at +20 °C for 30 days, while at -20 °C and for some matrices also at +4 °C no appreciable degradation occurred. Aconitine concentrations in real samples were 10.3-17.9 µg L(-1) (peripheral blood, n = 3), 14.9-87.9 µg L(-1) (heart blood, n = 3), 317-481 µg L(-1) (urine, n = 2), 609-4040 µg L(-1) (stomach content, n = 3), 139-240 µg L(-1) (bile, n = 2), 8.4 µg L(-1) (vitreous humor, n = 1), 54.7 µg L(-1) (pericardial fluid, n = 1), 492 µg kg(-1) (liver, n = 1), 15.2-19.7 mg L(-1) (unknown liquids secured onsite, n = 3). Together with concomitant circumstances the analytical data provided compelling evidence for acute Aconitum poisoning as being the cause of death. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en

L’anxiété pathologique peut se présenter sous différentes formes : trouble anxieux généralisé, trouble panique, trouble obsessionnel compulsif, phobie sociale, phobie spécifique ou état de stress post-traumatique. De nombreux traitements allopathiques (anxiolytiques ou antidépresseurs) sont disponibles pour traiter ces maladies, mais leur prescription peut engendrer une tolérance, une dépendance et des effets indésirables notables. C’est pourquoi l’utilisation de l’homéopathie peut être un véritable atout dans la prise en charge de la pathologie anxieuse, notamment à l’officine. Elle permet d’offrir un contact relationnel appréciable ainsi qu’une solution efficace, si elle est maitrisée, sans effets indésirables ni contre-indications. Quatre souches majeures de l’anxiété sont étudiées dans ce travail : Aconitum napellus, Argentum nitricum, Arsenicum album et Phosphorus. Certains cas cliniques de comptoir illustrent, en fin d’ouvrage, leur utilité dans ces pathologies anxieuses.

The action of homeopathic medicines, in ultra-high dilution, is not directly observable. An attempt was made to explore autonomic response of selective homeopathic medicines, in healthy persons, using Medical Analyzer System (Electronics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India).The objective of the study was to observe the action of homeopathic medicines on physiologic variability of heart rate and blood flow.Pre- and postinterventional variability spectra of heart rate and blood flow of 77 subjects were recorded with the Medical Analyzer System, administering homeopathic preparations of Aconitum napellus (6c, 10M), Arsenicum album (200c, 1M), Gelsemium sempervirens (200c, 1M), Phosphorus (200c, 1M), Pulsatilla nigricans (200c) and Sulphur (200c, 1M) versus placebo control. The amplitude of the peaks viz. low-frequency, medium-frequency, and high-frequency was measured for postintervention analysis. An increase in the amplitude of any valid peak by 100% or a decrease by 50% was considered as significant change.Aconitum napellus produced a response in heart rate variability (HRV) with 30c potency and in blood flow variability with 1M potency. Sulphur 200c and 1M, Gelsemium 200c and Pulsatilla 200c, produced a 62.5% response in HRV against the placebo response of 16.6%. Gelsemium, Phosphorus, and Sulphur produced a response in blood flow variability with a 1M potency, similar to the response of Aconitum napellus 1M.These data suggest that it is possible to record the response of homeopathic medicines on physiologic parameters of the autonomic nervous system.

Background: Aconitum napellus (Acn) is used topically to relieve pain, itching and inflammation, and internally to reduce febrile states, among others. Any circadian time-related consequences of Acn administration are unknown. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of two doses of Acn on body temperature (BT) of mice treated at six different times over 24 hours. Materials and Methods: BALB/c female mice were housed in six chambers (six mice each) with air temperature 24 ± 3°C, humidity 60 ± 4%, and a 12-hours light (L)/12-hours dark cycle, but with L-onset staggered by 4 hours between chambers so that study at one external test time resulted in six test times (02, 06, 10, 14, 18 and 22 hours [h] after light onset). Rectal temperature (RT; in °C) was measured at baseline (B) and 1 hour after oral treatment with placebo (P) or two doses of Acn (6C and 30C, two studies each) in six studies over an 8 day span. The difference in RT for each mouse from the respective B + P timepoint mean RT was computed following each Acn treatment, and data from each of the six studies (original RT and difference from B + P) were analyzed for time-effect by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and for circadian rhythm by 24-hour cosine fitting. Results: A circadian rhythm in RT was found at B and after P (mean: 35.58°C vs. 35.69°C; peak: 15:31 h vs. 15:40 h) and after each Acn dose (30C or 6C). Acn induced hyperthermia and the overall change in BT was rhythmically significant for each dose (mean = +1.95°C vs. +1.70°C), with greatest hyperthermia observed during the L-span for each dose (peak = 08:56 h vs. 05:17 h). Conclusion: Acn administered around the clock induced hyperthermia overall and in a time-dependent manner, with greatest effects during the resting (L) span. Thus, time of day may significantly impact the outcome of Acn and other homeopathic treatments and should be considered in determining optimal dosing and treatment time(s) in order to increase the desired outcome and decrease undesired effects.

Seeds of Aconitum napellus subsp. castellanum were physiologically dormant at maturity in early autumn, with underdeveloped embryos. Thus they have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Embryos in fresh seeds were on average 1.01 mm long, and they had to grow to 3.60 mm before radicle emergence. Cold stratification at 5°C for 5 months with light enhanced the mean embryo length to 2.73 mm (SE = 0.13) and seed germination to 20%. However, with higher temperatures (15/4, 20/7, 25/10, 28/14 and 32/18°C) embryo growth was small, with no seeds germinating. Optimal germination was achieved after 4 months of cold stratification at 5°C followed by incubation at 20/7°C for 1 month with light, when germination ranged between 70 and 79%, depending on seed age, locality and year of collection. Cold stratification could be substituted by the application of GA3 solution, since mean embryo length in seeds incubated at 25/10°C for 1 month with light was 3.52 mm and the germination was 80%. Since cold stratification was the only requirement for the loss of MPD, the longest embryo growth occurred during this treatment, and GA3 promoted MPD loss, we concluded that A. napellus seeds have intermediate complex MPD. Germination was higher in 4-month stored than in freshly matured seeds. A pronounced variability in germinative patterns at inter-annual and inter-population level was recorded.

Background : Although healthy persons often report on reactions to homeopathically diluted substances, the mechanism behind such reactions remains unclear. This study examines whethe

Summary • Plants growing at low density can suffer from Allee effects as a result of pollen limitation. Previous studies of Allee effects have focused on the effects of variation among populations in size or density on reproduction. Here, the effects of plant distribution within populations on fitness components are explored in a rare plant, Aconitum napellus ssp. lusitanicum, and ecological and genetic mechanisms underlying these effects are identified. • To detect pollen limitation, seed production was compared under natural versus hand-supplemented pollinations on inflorescences of different sizes in natural patches differing both in flower density and in isolation from other patches. Germination rate and juvenile survival of seeds produced in low- and high-density patches were also compared. • Pollen-supplemented flowers always produced more seeds than open-pollinated flowers, especially among small plants and plants growing at low density. Offspring produced in low-density patches exhibited lower fitness that those produced in high-density patches. This could have been caused by post-fertilization mechanisms, including inbreeding depression or differential maternal resource allocation. • These results show that Allee effects on fitness components (ecological and genetic Allee effects) occur within A. napellus populations at different spatial scales. The spatial distribution of plants seems to be a crucial factor affecting reproductive output and fitness.

Intoxication with Aconitum napellus is rare in our regions. Aconite alkaloids can cause ventricular arrhythmia by a prolonged activation of sodium channels. Because the margin of safety is low between the analgesic and toxic dose, intoxication is not rare when Aconite is used in herbal medicine. We present a case in which a 39-year-old male was accidentally intoxicated with Aconite. Even though no antidote or adequate therapy is available he was successfully resuscitated. (Neth Heart J 2008;16:96-9.).

L’auteur, qui a séjourné dans le Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras (France) entre le 9 et le 17 août 2007, y a noté la présence de plus d’une vingtaine d’espèces de bourdons. Cet article rapporte les observations les plus intéressantes concernant Bombus gerstaeckeri Morawitz, B. inexspectatus (Tkalců), B. brodmannicus Vogt et l'accouplement de B. mendax Gerstaecker. Rare bumblebees of the Queyras Regional Natural Park (Hautes-Alpes, France). The author, who stayed in the Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras (France) between the 9th and the 17th August 2007, noted the presence of more than twenty species of bumblebees. This paper deals with the most interesting observations about Bombus gerstaeckeri Morawitz, B. inexspectatus (Tkalců), B. brodmannicus Vogt and the copulation of B. mendax Gerstaecker.

SummaryOne of the main external factors that influence anthocyanin accumulation is temperature, with low temperatures increasing and elevated temperatures decreasing pigment concentration. Recently we showed that higher magnesium levels increased anthocyanin accumulation in aster flowers grown at elevated temperatures, probably due to increased stability of the pigments. The aims of this study were to further characterise the effect of magnesium treatment on pigmentation in a variety of plants, and to determine the specificity of the treatment with respect to plants, plant organs and anthocyanins. Four ornamental plants that accumulate anthocyanins in different organs were chosen: Anigozanthos ‘Mini Ranger’ with red flower buds, Limonium ‘Blue Night’ with blue bracts, Gypsophila ‘Pinkolina’ with pink flowers, and Aconitum napellus with blue flowers. The plants varied in the specific anthocyanins that generate their colour. Magnesium treatment caused a significant increase in anthocyanin concentrations (be...