Aconitum japonicum
Aconitum japonicum, commonly known as Japanese monkshood, is a potent medicinal plant native to East Asia. While highly toxic due to its alkaloid content, it is traditionally utilized in controlled doses within herbal medicine to treat pain and inflammation. Precise preparation is essential to harness its therapeutic potential safely.
- Scientific name: Aconitum japonicum
- Family: Ranunculaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Aconitum japonicum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the family Ranunculaceae and is categorized under the genus Aconitum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ranunculales | WCVP |
| Family | Ranunculaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Aconitum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Aconitum japonicum, is known by various names across different languages and regions. In Japanese, it is referred to as ヤマトリカブト, while in Icelandic, it is called Japanshjálmur. Its common names in Chinese also reflect its botanical identity, being known as 日本乌头 in both Simplified Chinese (zh-cn) and standard Chinese (zh), and as 日本烏頭 in Traditional Chinese (zh-tw).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ja | ヤマトリカブト | Wikidata |
| is | Japanshjálmur | Wikidata |
| zh | 日本乌头 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 日本乌头 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 日本烏頭 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 日本乌头 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across several regions within Eastern Asia. In China, its presence is specifically noted within the Manchuria region. The species also has a significant presence in Japan, which is part of the broader Eastern Asian territory. Furthermore, its geographical range extends to include Korea. Together, these locations define the natural habitat where this medicinal species can be found.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | Manchuria | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Aconitum japonicum, is primarily valued for its medicinal properties, which are concentrated within its roots. These tuberous roots contain potent alkaloids that serve as the source of its bioactive compounds, though they must be processed carefully due to their extreme toxicity. In traditional herbal practices, the roots are the specific part harvested and prepared to harness their therapeutic effects.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Aconitum japonicum has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hypaconitine, aconitine, aljesaconitine A, benzoylmesaconine, chasmanine.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hypaconitine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aconitine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aljesaconitine A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| benzoylmesaconine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chasmanine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coryneine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| deoxyaconitine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| higenamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kobusine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lipodeoxyaconitine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |