Aconitum kusnezoffii
Aconitum kusnezoffii, commonly known as Kusnezoff's monkshood, is a potent perennial herb belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. Renowned for its striking blue flowers, it contains highly toxic alkaloids. While historically utilized in traditional medicine for pain and inflammation, its extreme toxicity requires precise processing to ensure therapeutic safety.
- Scientific name: Aconitum kusnezoffii
- Family: Ranunculaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Aconitum kusnezoffii, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is further classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the family Ranunculaceae and 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 kusnezoffii, is recognized by various regional names across different languages. In Chinese, it is known as 北乌头 (zh-hans), 北烏頭 (zh-hant), and 北烏頭 (zh-hk). In Russian, the species is referred to as Борец Кузнецова, while in Azerbaijani, its common name is Kuznetsov kəpənəkçiçəyi.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 北乌头 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 北烏頭 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 北烏頭 | Wikidata |
| ru | Борец Кузнецова | Wikidata |
| az | Kuznetsov kəpənəkçiçəyi | Wikidata |
| zh | 北乌头 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 草乌 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 草烏 | Wikidata |
| es | Aconitum kusnezoffii var. gibbiferum | Wikidata |
| es | Aconitum pulcherrimum subsp. luferovii | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several key regions of Northern Asia. Within the vast expanse of Siberia, it can be found inhabiting the territories of Buryatiya and Chitа. It also grows throughout the Irkutsk region and extends into the northern reaches of Yakutiya. Furthermore, its presence is documented within the Russian Far East, specifically in the Amur region. Consequently, these locations define the primary geographical range for this medicinal species.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Siberia | Buryatiya | WCVP |
| Siberia | Chita | WCVP |
| Siberia | Irkutsk | WCVP |
| Siberia | Yakutiya | WCVP |
| Russian Far East | Amur | WCVP |
| Russian Far East | Khabarovsk | WCVP |
| Russian Far East | Primorye | WCVP |
| China | Inner Mongolia | WCVP |
| China | Manchuria | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Aconitum kusnezoffii, possesses a complex internal structure where various components contribute to its medicinal potency. The most pharmacologically significant part is the roots, which serve as the primary storage site for bioactive alkaloids. Within these underground structures, the vascular system is organized into the xylem, responsible for the upward conduction of water and minerals, and the phloem, which facilitates the transport of organic nutrients throughout the plant. Surrounding these vascular tissues is the cortex, a layer of tissue that provides structural support and plays a role in metabolic processes. Finally, the plant completes its life cycle through the production of seeds, which ensure the dispersal and propagation of the species.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 6
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| xylem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phloem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cortex | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Aconitum kusnezoffii has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include aconitine, hypaconitine, Aconitine, abscisic acid (ABA), benzoylaconine.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aconitine | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| hypaconitine | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Aconitine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| abscisic acid (ABA) | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| benzoylaconine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| benzoylhypaconine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gibberellins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |