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This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Aconitum heterophyllum (Ativisha) is a critically endangered Himalayan medicinal herb used in Ayurveda, noted for being the only nonpoisonous member of the Aconitum genus [PMID:34996731].
Background
Aconitum heterophyllum, also known as Ativisha or Patis, is a rare perennial herb from the northwestern and eastern Himalayas belonging to the Ranunculaceae family [PMID:22556788, PMID:25878466, PMID:34996731, PMID:36738364]. It is considered a critically endangered species [PMID:34996731].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used in Ayurveda for treating diarrhea, fever, urinary infections, inflammation, worm infestations, respiratory tract diseases, vomiting, diabetes, skin disorders, anaemia, joint disorders, and as an expectorant [PMID:30087784, PMID:34942322]. It is also used for hysteria, throat infections, dyspepsia, and abdominal pain [PMID:24550590].
Active compounds
The plant contains alkaloids (specifically aconites such as atisine, aconitine, hypaconitine, mesaconitine, aconine, benzoylmesaconitine, benzoylaconine, bulleyaconitine A, and deoxyaconitine), carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, saponins, glycosides, quinones, flavonoids, and terpenoids [PMID:30087784, PMID:35794832]. Diterpenoid alkaloids such as heterophyllinine-A and heterophyllinine-B have also been isolated [PMID:18615279, PMID:28457693].
Mechanism of action
The herb demonstrates anticholinesterase potential by inhibiting butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) [PMID:18615279, PMID:28457693]. In breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231), it has been shown to upregulate p53 and p21 while downregulating BCL2 and STAT [PMID:37538242]. It also exhibits hypolipidemic effects by lowering total cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B, while increasing serum high-density lipoprotein [PMID:23378943].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DDiarrhea
Ethanol extract significantly reduced normal fecal output and demonstrated antisecretory and antimotility activity in animal models [PMID:24550590, PMID:25130980]
Evidence DObesity/Hyperlipidemia
Methanol fraction markedly lowered total cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B in diet-induced obese rats [PMID:23378943]
Evidence DAcute Renal Failure
Ethanolic root extract showed antioxidant and nephroprotective activities in glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats [PMID:27134892]
Evidence DBreast Cancer
Root extract showed anti-proliferative potential in human MDA-MB-231 cell lines [PMID:37538242]
Evidence DProstate Enlargement
Did not show any significant effect on prostatic hyperplasia induced in rats [PMID:24761116]
Evidence BInfant Immunity
Used as part of 'Bala compound' oral drops to assess effects on serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, and IgA [PMID:22557316]
Safety & adverse effects
A. heterophyllum is described as the only nonpoisonous member of the Aconitum genus [PMID:34996731]. A formulation containing A. heterophyllum (Balacaturbhadrika churna) showed no signs of toxicity or mortality in rats up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg in acute studies, nor significant effects at 900 mg/kg over 45 days [PMID:21760693].
Evidence summary
The evidence consists primarily of in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), with limited clinical observation in pediatric formulations (Level B). Most data are derived from reviews of traditional use or preliminary pharmacological screenings.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 22556788 (1996) — Aconitum heterophyllum (ativisha) in ayurveda. · Ancient science of life
2.PMID: 26167002 (2015) — Pharmacology of Ativisha, Musta and their substitutes. · Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
3.PMID: 25878466 (2015) — Abhava pratinidhi dravya: A comparative phytochemistry of Ativisha, Musta and related species. · Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
4.PMID: 33262017 (2022) — Understanding COVID - 19 pandemic - A comprehensive Ayurvedic perspective. · Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
5.PMID: 30087784 (2017) — Primary Pharmacological and Other Important Findings on the Medicinal Plant "Aconitum Heterophyllum" (Aruna).
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 34996731 (2022) — Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle: A critically endangered medicinal herb with rich potential for use in medicine. · Journal of integrative medicine
7.PMID: 24761116 (2014) — Inhibitory effects by ayurvedic plants on prostate enlargement induced in rats. · Pharmacognosy research
8.PMID: 34942322 (2022) — Antiplasmodial diterpenoid alkaloid from Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle: Isolation, characterization, and UHPLC-DAD based quantification. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
9.PMID: 24128578 (2014) — nrDNA ITS sequence based SCAR marker to authenticate Aconitum heterophyllum and Cyperus rotundus in Ayurvedic raw drug source and prepared herbal products. · Food chemistry
10.PMID: 37538242 (2023) — Anti-proliferative potentials of Aconitum heterophyllum Root Extract in Human Breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines-Genetic and Antioxidant enzyme approach. · Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology
11.PMID: 24550590 (2014) — Antisecretory and antimotility activity of Aconitum heterophyllum and its significance in treatment of diarrhea. · Indian journal of pharmacology
12.PMID: 22557316 (2009) — Clinical study of the Immunoglobululin Enhancing effect of "Bala compound" on Infants. · Ancient science of life
13.PMID: 21829299 (2010) — Cyperus rotundus, a substitute for Aconitum heterophyllum: Studies on the Ayurvedic concept of Abhava Pratinidhi Dravya (drug substitution). · Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
14.PMID: 28457693 (2017) — Antioxidant and anticholinesterase potential of diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum heterophyllum. · Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
15.PMID: 38995530 (2024) — Airways Relaxant and Antiasthmatic Activity of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall ex Royle. Roots: A Mechanistic Insight. · Cell biochemistry and biophysics
16.PMID: 25130980 (2014) — Cryptocoryne spiralis, a substitute of Aconitum heterophyllum in the treatment of diarrhoea. · The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
17.PMID: 21760693 (2011) — Toxicological study of Balacaturbhadrika churna. · Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
18.PMID: 23378943 (2012) — Hypolipidemic effect of methanol fraction of Aconitum heterophyllum wall ex Royle and the mechanism of action in diet-induced obese rats. · Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
19.PMID: 37951375 (2024) — Ethnopharmacologically important highly subsidized Indian medicinal plants: Systematic review on their traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control, conservation status and future prospective. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
20.PMID: 36519419 (2023) — Insecticidal potential of extracts, fractions, and molecules of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall ex. Royle against aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae). · Pest management science
21.PMID: 35794832 (2022) — Identification and quantification of eight alkaloids in Aconitum heterophyllum using UHPLC-DAD-QTOF-IMS: A valuable tool for quality control. · Phytochemical analysis : PCA
22.PMID: 25239552 (2014) — Multiple genes of mevalonate and non-mevalonate pathways contribute to high aconites content in an endangered medicinal herb, Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. · Phytochemistry
23.PMID: 34513611 (2022) — The dual role of phytochemicals on SARS-CoV-2 inhibition by targeting host and viral proteins. · Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
24.PMID: 27134892 (2016) — Antioxidant and Nephroprotective Activities of Aconitum heterophyllum Root in Glycerol Induced Acute Renal Failure in Rats. · Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR
25.PMID: 3560991 (1986) — Immunomodulating agents of plant origin. I: Preliminary screening. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
26.PMID: 18615279 (2009) — New diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum heterophyllum Wall: Selective butyrylcholinestrase inhibitors. · Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry
27.PMID: 38947854 (2024) — Insights into Metabolites Profiling and Pharmacological Investigation of Aconitum heterophyllum wall ex. Royle Stem through Experimental and Bioinformatics Techniques. · ACS omega
28.PMID: 36738364 (2023) — Molecular characterization of fungal endophyte diversity isolated from Aconitum heterophyllum: a critically endangered medicinal plant of Kashmir Himalaya. · International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology
29.PMID: 37355080 (2023) — Medicinal plants traditionally used in the health care practices by the indigenous communities of the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh, India. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
30.PMID: 32624610 (2020) — Anti-obesity efficacy of the selected high altitude Himalayan herbs: in vitro studies. · Journal of food science and technology