Citation

Tai YT, But PP, Young K, Lau CP. Lancet 1992; 340(8830): 1254-1256.

Affiliation

Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong.

Comment In:

Lancet 1993;341(8838):177.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1359321

Abstract

Aconitine and its related alkaloids are known cardiotoxins with no therapeutic role in modern western medicine. The rootstocks of Aconitum plants, which contain aconite alkaloids, have been common components of Chinese herbal recipes. We have documented life-threatening intoxication in 17 Chinese subjects after accidental herb-induced aconite poisoning. All patients developed symptoms of aconite toxicity within 2 h of herb ingestion. Most developed tachyarrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation from which 2 patients died. Toxicological evaluation revealed that aconites from the Aconitum rootstocks were the only plausible casual factor for intoxication. These cases point to the need for strict surveillance of herbal substances with low safety margins.

Language: en