Details Top

Internal ID UUID644006eeee3ac659691394
Scientific name Aconitum anthora
Authority L.
First published in Sp. Pl. : 532 (1753)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

Write a new one!
No ethnobotanical data added yet. Help us by writing one.

General Uses Top

Suggest a correction!

Common products:
- Herbaceous perennial marketed as “Yellow monkshood” or “Anthora monkshood” by ornamental nurseries. Grown for its tall spikes of blue‑purple to yellow flowers that bloom from midsummer to early autumn. Used in mixed perennial borders, woodland gardens, shade gardens, and as a vertical accent. Widely listed in horticultural databases such as the RHS Plant Finder, the Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder, and commercial catalogs (e.g., Perennial Resource, Nourse Farms). Occasionally sold as a cut flower for floral arrangements because the sturdy inflorescences last several days in water. Some specialty growers produce container‑grown specimens for patio and balcony planting.

Scientific/model‑organism use:
- Frequently employed in analytical chemistry and phytochemical research; extracts serve as reference material for the quantitation of aconitine‑type and C₁₉‑norditerpenoid alkaloids (aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, and related lipoalkaloids). Published studies (e.g., “Chemical profiling of Aconitum anthora” J. Nat. Prod. 2015) describe the isolation of these compounds and their quantification by HPLC, GC–MS, and LC‑MS/MS. The species is used in chemotaxonomic comparisons within the genus Aconitum and as a source of standard solutions for method validation. It also appears in molecular phylogenetic investigations that sequence nuclear ribosomal DNA and plastid regions to resolve species relationships. Additionally, the plant is included in public databases such as Kew’s Plants of the World Online and the IUCN Red List, providing taxonomic and distribution data for researchers.

Properties relevant to use:
- High content of toxic diterpenoid alkaloids; the predominant alkaloids are lipophilic and readily extracted with organic solvents such as methanol or ethanol, facilitating quantitative analysis. The alkaloid profile shows a predominance of C₁₉‑norditerpenoid bases with high ionization efficiency in electrospray mass spectrometry. The mature flower spikes possess a lignified stalk that imparts durability for cut‑flower applications.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Commercial supply is largely derived from cultivated stock propagated by division of clumps or by seed in controlled nursery environments; wild harvesting is limited and discouraged. No international trade restrictions apply; growers follow local horticultural safety guidelines to prevent accidental ingestion of toxic plant parts. Nurseries typically employ standard IPM practices and document cultivar origins to maintain traceability.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Aconitum pseudanthora Wender. Index Seminum (MB, Marburgensis) 1832: 1, 4 (1832)
Aconitum anthora f. collinum Schur
Aconitum anthora var. confertiflorum DC. Syst. Nat. 1: 366 (1817)
Aconitum anthora subsp. confertiflorum (DC.) Vorosch. Byull. Glavn. Bot. Sada 96: 23 (1975)
Aconitum anthora f. jacquinii Rchb.
Aconitum anthora var. patulum Rouy & Foucaud
Aconitum anthora var. velutinum Rchb.
Aconitum anthora var. versicolor Steven ex Ser. Mus. Helv. Bot. 1: 132 1823
Aconitum anthoroideum DC. Syst. Nat. 1: 366 (1817)
Aconitum anthorum St.-Lag. Ann. Soc. Bot. Lyon vii. (1880) 119.
Aconitum candollei Rchb. ex Steud. Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 1: 18 (1840)
Aconitum coeruleum Blocki
Aconitum confertiflorum (DC.) Gáyer Magyar Bot. Lapok 8: 128 (1909)
Aconitum confertiflorum var. armenum Vorosch. Bot. Zhurn. S.S.S.R. 30: 132 1945
Aconitum confertiflorum var. armenum Vorosch. ex Luferov Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 85(10): 91 (2000)
Aconitum confertiflorum var. pumilum Kem.-Nath. Fl. Gruzii 2(3): 238 (1975)
Aconitum confertiflorum var. versicolor (Steven ex Ser.) Luferov Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 85(10): 91 (2000)
Aconitum decandollei Rchb. Uebers. Aconitum : 16 (1819)
Aconitum eulophum Rchb. Uebers. Aconitum : 15 (1819)
Aconitum inclinatum Sweet Hort. Brit. , ed. 2: 9 (1830)
Aconitum jacquinii Rchb. Uebers. Aconitum : 17 (1819)
Aconitum nemorosum M.Bieb. ex Rchb. Uebers. Aconitum : 17 (1819)
Aconitum ochroleucum Salisb. Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 375 (1796)
Aconitum pallasii Rchb. Uebers. Aconitum : 18 (1819)
Aconitum pyrenaicum Pall. Reise Russ. Reich. 2(1): 316. 1773
Aconitum tuberosum Patr. ex Rchb. Uebers. Aconitum : 16 (1819)
Aconitum versicolor Ster. ex Ledeb. Fl. Ross. 1: 66 (1841)
Anthora saxatilis Fourr. Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 16: 326 (1868)
Anthora versicolor Steven ex Ser. Prodr. 1: 57 (1824)
Delphinium anthora Baill. Traité Bot. Méd. Phan. 1: 477 (1883)
Aconitum anthora var. anthoroideum (DC.) Regel Index Seminum (LE) 1861: 41 1861
Aconitum nemorosum Bieb. ex Reichenb.
Aconitum pseudanthora Blocki ex Pacz.
Aconitum anthora subsp. nemorosum (Bieb. ex Reichenb.) Vorosch. Byull. Glavn. Bot. Sada 158: 37 (1990)

Common names Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!

Language Common/alternative name
English yellow monkshood
Arabic انتله سوداء
Arabic طواراه
Catalan tora groga
Czech oměj jedhoj
German gift-eisenhut
French aconit anthore
French maclou
French anthore
French aconit vénéneux
Croatian Žutičasti jedić
Hungarian méregölő sisakvirág
Icelandic sólhjálmur
Kazakh Дәрі мәрпі
Polish tojad południowy
Romanian omag galben
Russian Борец противоядный
Slovenian primorska preobjeda
Ukrainian Аконіт дібровний

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No subspecies added yet.

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No variety added yet.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No subvariety added yet.

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No forms added yet.

Germination/Propagation Top

Suggest a correction or add new data!
Sow seeds immediately as their viability decreases rapidly, or they best germinate when fresh. If stored, seeds might need temperature cycling and patience to germinate.
seed very poisonous, wash hands after handling, 20°C x 4 weeks, then -7°C x 6 weeks, then 10°C,

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-temperate
    • Caucasus
      • North Caucasus
      • Transcaucasus
    • China
      • Xinjiang
    • Middle Asia
      • Kazakhstan
    • Mongolia
      • Mongolia
    • Siberia
      • Altay
      • Krasnoyarsk
      • Tuva
      • West Siberia
    • Western Asia
      • Turkey
  • Europe
    • Eastern Europe
      • Baltic States
      • Central European Russia
      • East European Russia
      • Krym
      • South European Russia
      • Ukraine
    • Middle Europe
      • Austria
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Hungary
      • Switzerland
    • Southeastern Europe
      • Romania
      • Yugoslavia
    • Southwestern Europe
      • France
      • Spain

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000516910
USDA Plants ACAN8
Tropicos 27102101
INPN 80007
Flora of Italy 1013
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:707158-1
The Plant List kew-2618374
Open Tree Of Life 14057
Observations.org 113893
NCBI Taxonomy 112588
IPNI 707158-1
iNaturalist 473706
GBIF 3033670
Freebase /m/09y2c1
EPPO AAOAT
EOL 485247
USDA GRIN 400010
Wikipedia Aconitum_anthora

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Traditional Knowledge Evolution over Half of a Century: Local Herbal Resources and Their Changes in the Upper Susa Valley of Northwest Italy Sulaiman N, Zocchi DM, Borrello MT, Mattalia G, Antoniazzi L, Berlinghof SE, Bewick A, Häfliger I, Schembs M, Torri L, Pieroni A Plants (Basel) 22-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC10780445
doi:10.3390/plants13010043
PMID:38202351
Rare tradition of the folk medicinal use of Aconitum spp. is kept alive in Solčavsko, Slovenia Povšnar M, Koželj G, Kreft S, Lumpert M J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 08-Aug-2017
PMCID:PMC5549329
doi:10.1186/s13002-017-0171-x
PMID:28789666
Natural products modulating the hERG channel: heartaches and hope Kratz JM, Grienke U, Scheel O, Mann SA, Rollinger JM Nat Prod Rep 12-May-2017
PMCID:PMC5708533
doi:10.1039/c7np00014f
PMID:28497823
Multiple genes of mevalonate and non-mevalonate pathways contribute to high aconites content in an endangered medicinal herb, Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. Malhotra N, Kumar V, Sood H, Singh TR, Chauhan RS Phytochemistry 01-Dec-2014
doi:10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2014.08.025
PMID:25239552
Preparative isolation of seven diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum coreanum by pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography. Wang X, Shu X, Wang X, Yu J, Jing F Molecules 19-Aug-2014
PMCID:PMC6270812
doi:10.3390/MOLECULES190812619
PMID:25153874
Diterpene alkaloids from Aconitum anthora and assessment of the hERG-inhibiting ability of Aconitum alkaloids. Forgo P, Borcsa B, Csupor D, Fodor L, Berkecz R, Molnár V A, Hohmann J Planta Med 01-Mar-2011
doi:10.1055/S-0030-1250362
PMID:20862641
Flavonoid characterization and in vitro antioxidant activity of Aconitum anthora L. (Ranunculaceae). Mariani C, Braca A, Vitalini S, De Tommasi N, Visioli F, Fico G Phytochemistry 01-Mar-2008
doi:10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.12.009
PMID:18226822

Phytochemical Profile Top

Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Aconitane-type diterpenoid alkaloids
Benzoylaconine 60155417 Click to see CCN1CC2(C(CC(C34C2C(C(C31)C5(C6C4CC(C6OC(=O)C7=CC=CC=C7)(C(C5O)OC)O)O)OC)OC)O)COC 603.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0030-1250362
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Villanovane, atisane, trachylobane or helvifulvane diterpenoids / Atisane diterpenoids
11-Methyl-5-methylidene-16-oxa-13-azahexacyclo[9.6.3.24,7.01,10.02,7.013,17]docosan-6-ol 4481626 Click to see CC12CCCC3(C1CCC45C3CC(CC4)C(=C)C5O)C6N(C2)CCO6 343.50 unknown https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6270812/
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2014.08.025
Anthorine 441709 Click to see CC12CCCC3(C1CCC45C3CC(CC4)C(=C)C5O)C6N(C2)CCO6 343.50 unknown https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6270812/
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2014.08.025
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides
[(2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[5-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxo-7-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxychromen-3-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]methoxy]-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl] (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 24854120 Click to see 1048.90 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.12.009
[(2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6S)-6-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-4-oxo-7-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxychromen-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methoxy]-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl] (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 24854055 Click to see 1064.90 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.12.009
[5-Hydroxy-2-methyl-6-[[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[5-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxo-7-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxychromen-3-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]methoxy]-4-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl] 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 74333953 Click to see 1048.90 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.12.009
[6-[[6-[2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-4-oxo-7-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxychromen-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methoxy]-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl] 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 74333925 Click to see 1064.90 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.12.009
2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-7-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxy-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one 13845945 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC3=C(OC4=CC(=CC(=C4C3=O)O)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)C)O)O)O)C6=CC(=C(C=C6)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O 756.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.12.009
3-((6-O-(6-Deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)oxy)-7-((6-deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)oxy)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one 5488716 Click to see 756.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.12.009
5-Hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxy-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one 5351997 Click to see 740.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.12.009
Robinin 5281693 Click to see 740.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.12.009

Gallery Top

We don't have an image yet. Upload an image!

Contributors Top

No known contributors. Be the first!

Collections Top

In private collections 0
In public collections 0
You need to be authenticated in order to add this taxon to a personal collection.