Chan T Y, Tomlinson B, Tse L K, Chan J C, Chan W W, Critchley J A
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, New Territories.
Vet Hum Toxicol. 1994 Oct;36(5):452-5.
Both "chuanwu", the main root of Aconitum carmichaeli, and "caowu", the root of A kusnezoffii, are believed to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic and cardiotonic effects and have been used in Chinese materia medica mainly for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. They contain the highly toxic C19 diterpenoid alkaloids of aconitine, mesaconitine and hypaconitine. After ingestion, patients may present with signs and symptoms that are typical of aconitine poisoning. Death may occur from ventricular arrhythmias, which are most likely to occur within the first 24 h. Management of aconitine poisoning is essentially supportive. There are no adequate studies in humans to indicate the most effective treatment of the ventricular arrhythmias. All clinicians should be alerted to the potential toxicity of "chuanwu" and "caowu".
川乌（乌头的主根）和草乌（北乌头的根）都被认为具有抗炎、镇痛和强心作用，在中国传统医学中主要用于治疗肌肉骨骼疾病。它们含有剧毒的C19二萜生物碱乌头碱、中乌头碱和次乌头碱。摄入后，患者可能会出现乌头碱中毒的典型症状和体征。死亡可能由室性心律失常导致，最易发生在最初24小时内。乌头碱中毒的治疗主要是支持性治疗。目前尚无足够的人体研究表明对室性心律失常最有效的治疗方法。所有临床医生都应警惕川乌和草乌的潜在毒性。
