Anabolic principles of Aconitum roots

The methanol extracts of raw and processed roots of Aconitum carmichaeli were shown to stimulate amino acid incorporation into mouse liver protein after approx. 10 h of ingestion. The extract of the raw roots was fractionated by monitoring the anabolic activity to furnish the aconitine alkaloids as active principles, among which mesaconitine exhibited the strongest activity. Amino acid incorporation into liver protein in the mesaconitine treated mice was inhibited by actinomycin D to the level of normal mice. Long-term administration of mesaconitine induced no reinforcement of the anabolic activity in mouse liver. Examination of the anabolic activity in liver, spleen, kidney, testis and serum revealed that mesaconitine potentiated protein synthesis only in liver and rather reduced it in kidney.