Comparison of Higenamine Extraction from Unprocessed and Processed Aconite Roots

Higenamine is a cardiotonic constituent of Aconite root, one of the most important oriental traditional medicine. Since Aconite root contains toxic aconitine alkaloids, variously processed roots have been often used. Much works have been done with the chemical significances concerning with the toxic aconitine alkaloids during the processing periods. However, effects of processing on higenamine have not yet been previously studied. In this paper, the extract pattern and the amounts of higenamine extracted with water from unprocessed and processed Aconite roots were compared. R-(+)-isomer was the only higenamine enantiomer detected although racemic higenamine was reported to be separated from Aconitum spp. Sonication for 1 hour resulted in higher higenamine extraction $(12.3\;{\mu}g/g)$ than boiling water extraction for 3 hours $(6.7\;{\mu}g/g)$ of unprocessed Aconite root. Extraction of not only higenamine but also most of the other components of unprocessed Aconite roots were reduced with boiling in water. Similarly, reduced extraction was observed with extracts of all three processed Aconite roots (Kyung-Po-Aconite root, Dang-Po-Aconite root and Huk-Peon-Aconite root) by either sonicated extraction or boiling water extraction.