Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle: A critically endangered medicinal herb with rich potential for use in medicine

Aconitum heterophyllum (Patrees) is a critically endangered medicinal herb of the northwestern Himalayas and has enormous pharmacological potential. It is the only nonpoisonous member of the genus Aconitum, and has been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times. A. heterophyllum is an important ingredient in many traditional systems of medicine. Mostly, it is harvested for its roots, and its medicinal properties are due to the presence of diverse bioactive secondary metabolites, commonly known as aconites. Our understanding of the pharmacological properties of this intriguing genus is continuously growing due to its broad chemical diversity. The therapeutic uses identified by traditional medicinal practice are receiving extensive study. Multiple in vitro experimental investigations of A. heterophyllum have reported the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiarrhythmic, antiparasitic and anticancer properties, as well as its effects on the central nervous system. In this review, we highlight the classification, distribution, commerce, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and conservation measures relevant to this species. Additionally, this review includes the biosynthetic pathways of A. heterophyllum's key constituents, which could be targeted to enhance the expression levels of desired metabolites via genetic interventions. Studying the genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomic aspects of this species would be helpful in developing highly designed genotypes and chemotypes of this species to be used in commercial production. Please cite this article as: Wani TA, Kaloo ZA, Dangroo NA. Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle: A critically endangered medicinal herb with rich potential for use in medicine. J Integr Med. 2022; 20(2): 104- 113. (c) 2022 Shanghai Yueyang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Aconitum heterophyllum is a critically endangered medicinal herb with rich potential for use in medicine. It is the only nonpoisonous member of the Aconitum genus and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Studies have shown that A. heterophyllum possesses analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiarrhythmic, antiparasitic, and anticancer properties. This review provides an overview of its classification, distribution, commerce, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and conservation measures, as well as the biosynthetic pathways of its key constituents.