An Analysis Of Toxicity Of The Spgc Decoctions Containing Aconites

An Analysis of Toxicity of the SPGC Decoctions Containing AconitesPurpose:The present study is designed to research the toxicity of the decoctions made according to aconites-containing formulas in Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber (SPGC). The objects of the toxicity testing are the content of the three kinds of high toxic diester-aconitines, namely, Aconitine, Mesaconitine, Hypaconitine, in the decoctions. The testing instruments are the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the Hypesil BDS-C18 analytical column. A chart will be made according to the testing results to show the content change of the three aconites in the decoctions with the time of decocting, so as to find the high content points of those highly toxic ingredients in the decoctions, and the minimal period of time needed to hydrolyze the toxic content to a safety level. The aim is to make well-informed judgment of the decocting guidelines over making decoctions according to the aconites-containing formulas of SPGC.Methods:①Choose six from those classical formulas containing aconites (prepared in pieces) in SPGC.②Boil the six decoctions made according to the six formulas respectively on slow fire from 300 ml to 100 ml in a period of 60—80 minutes. Take a sample of each decoction every 5 minutes.③Adopt the HPLC testing method to detect the content; Hypesil BDS-C18(250mm X 4.6mm,5μm) Column; mobilephase:methyl alcohol-water-chloroform-triethylamine (100:50:3:0.15); Detection wavelength:234 nm; Flow speed:1.0 mL/min;Column temperature:25℃.Results:①Aconitine, Mesaconitine, and Hypaconitine show good linear relationship to the peak areas within the range of (0.0240-0.4800)μg, (0.0294-0.5580)μg, and (0.0650-0.650O)μg, with r of 0.9991,0.9991, and 0.9993, respectively.②The change laws of the toxic content of the decoctions are found, which can play a guiding role in selecting the best decocting way for decocting medicines with different combinations.③The effect of the different decocting time on the toxic content in the decoctions for a specific decocting method is made clear, which can play a guiding role in setting up the best amount of decocting time for decocting medicines with different combinations.④The high dissolving points of the toxic content in the decoctions are obtained, which can provide advice on correct ways of decocting and using medicines and warn about the clinical danger of decocting medicines in wrong ways.Conclusion:The method of detecting the content of aconitine-type alkaloids used in this study works well. In the chromatograms of the three aconitine-type alkaloids, there are clear characteristic peaks, distinguishing well from other peaks, which meet well the requirement of the criteria on detecting the quality of the three aconitine-type alkaloids. The amount of the dissolved aconitine-type alkaloids in the SPGC decoctions and the disappearing time are under obvious influence of the decocting time and the other compatible medicines than the aconites in the decoctions. The extent of toxicity changes with the decocting time and the amount of the other compatible medicines in the decoctions. The findings of this study can play a role in guiding decocting medicines correctly for clinical purposes.