Aconitine
Nicknamed the “Queen of poisons”, Aconitine is an alkaloid from aconite plant species, with common names as Monkshood (Wolfsbane), Blue Rocket, Friar's Cap and Auld Wife's Huid
Uses and composition
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/5/8/23583648/348088635.png)
Aconitine is a neurotoxin, opening paths for Tetrodotoxin and opens way for cardiac arythmmeia in the heart. In medicine, it is commonly used as an antipyretic – reduction of fever and an analgesic –reduction of pain. However, the narrow therapeutic pathways makes it difficult to calculate appropriate dosage before lethality is reached.
It is mainly composed of Carbon, Hydrogen and Nitrogen Oxide in the ratio of C34H47NO11
The substance is primarily soluble in Chloroform and Benzene and slightly less so in Alcohol and Ether. Aconitine is poorly soluble in water. Ingested orally, lethal doses have been
reported as 1.5-6 mg
It is mainly composed of Carbon, Hydrogen and Nitrogen Oxide in the ratio of C34H47NO11
The substance is primarily soluble in Chloroform and Benzene and slightly less so in Alcohol and Ether. Aconitine is poorly soluble in water. Ingested orally, lethal doses have been
reported as 1.5-6 mg
Symptoms of Ingestion:
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/5/8/23583648/835301128.jpg?271)
Asonitine Works on the vaso-motor nervous system, used as a depressant of the heart and can paralyse it in high enough quantities. Starting at the nerves’ terminal filaments, it works up the ‘trunk’ until the nerve centres are depressed and reflex activity and voluntary actions are destroyed. In moderate doses, symptoms could include numbness and tingling on tongue and lips, muscle weakness and slowed breathing rate. In lethal doses, however, the symptoms are much more severe, and these include tingling in skin, joint pain, vision problems and/or pupil dilation, low irregular heartbeat, cold sweats, burning in digestive tract, nausea and vomiting.
Toxicity and Antidote:
Poisoning using Aconitine is uncommon, and it is this reason primarily that there is no medical cure. If there is found traces of the substance in the body, large amounts of warm water ingested immediately and pumped out quickly evacuated, pumping or siphoning being the most common methods of this. Fusions of Oak Bark will also aid in two ways, by diluting the substance and as a mild antidote. Only one chemical antidote has been found to be efficient when diluted in water, and this is Tannic Acid. Many other ways have been tested but are not proven antidotes.
Case studies
Lakhvir Kaur Singh (The Curry Killer):
The Murder:
- Lakhvinder Cheema was murdered in Southall, West London, by his former lover, Lakhvir Kaur Singh through the use of the poison aconitine.
- The case is of note due to the unusual and cruel method of killing and degree of premeditation, with Singh traveling to India to procure the ancient poison aconitine.
The Murder:
- On 27 January Singh went to the victim's home and laced a curry in his
refrigerator with the poison.
- Cheema began to vomit, and his face became numb; he soon lost vision and the use of his
limbs. Though his sister was able to get the couple to a hospital, Cheema
died within an hour of arrival.