Aconitum lycoctonum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440070727235671630773 |
| Scientific name | Aconitum lycoctonum |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 532 (1753) |
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Aconitum lycoctonum is cultivated as a herbaceous perennial for garden borders, mixed perennial beds, and as a cut‑flower plant. Its tall, erect spikes of deep blue to violet flowers are prized for their striking colour, longevity, and architectural form, making them suitable for cottage‑garden and contemporary naturalistic designs. The species is listed in major horticultural reference works (RHS Plant Finder, Flora of Britain and Northern Europe) and is available from specialist perennial nurseries. It is also used in education and demonstration gardens to illustrate seed propagation, division, and design principles for tall perennials.
Properties relevant to use:
The aerial parts and roots contain diterpenoid alkaloids, principally lycaconitine, together with related aconitine‑type compounds. These alkaloids are highly toxic (neurotoxic if ingested), requiring strict handling protocols such as the use of protective gloves and avoidance of skin contact. Phytochemical surveys report that total alkaloid concentrations in the plant material are typically in the low‑percent range (below 1 % dry weight), a property that underpins the plant’s limited non‑medicinal applications. The same alkaloids are employed as reference standards in analytical chemistry (e.g., LC‑MS quantification of diterpenoid alkaloids) and as model toxins in neuropharmacology studies, providing a documented scientific use unrelated to medicinal or food purposes. Aconitum lycoctonum does not yield timber, fiber, food, dyes, resins, or fragrances, so its use is confined to ornamental cultivation and research material.
Standards and regulation:
The alkaloids isolated from A. lycoctonum fall under the European Union’s CLP Regulation (EC No 1272/2008) for classification of hazardous substances. Aconitine and related diterpenoid alkaloids are listed as “Acute toxicity, oral, Category 1” (H300 – Fatal if swallowed) and “Acute toxicity, dermal, Category 1” (H310 – Fatal in contact with skin), necessitating appropriate labeling, safety data sheets, and handling procedures for any commercial or laboratory use.
Sustainability and sourcing:
IUCN Red List assessments list Aconitum lycoctonum as Least Concern, indicating a stable global population with no significant conservation threat. Commercial supply is primarily from cultivated stock; wild collection is rare and generally discouraged to preserve genetic diversity. Propagation by seed (often requiring cold stratification) or by division is standard horticultural practice, enabling sustainable production without depleting wild populations. Ex‑situ conservation efforts, including seed‑bank storage, maintain genetic resources for future horticultural and research use.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Lycoctonum sylvaticum | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 16: 326 (1868) |
| Aconitum aegophonum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 69 (1819) |
| Aconitum alienum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 73 (1819) |
| Aconitum altissimum | Mill. | Gard. Dict. ed. 8 : n.º 2 (1768) |
| Aconitum altissimum subsp. penninum | (Ser.) Holub | Preslia 70: 99 (1998) |
| Aconitum arctophonum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 71 (1819) |
| Aconitum australe | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 71 (1819) |
| Aconitum boreale | Ser. ex Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum 62. 1819 [28 Mar 1819] |
| Aconitum cynoctonum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 73 (1819) |
| Aconitum dissectum | Tausch ex Rchb. | Monog. Acon. t. 47. |
| Aconitum excelsum | Turcz. | Cat. Baikal. n. 70. |
| Aconitum galectonum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum 67. 1819 [28 Mar 1819] |
| Aconitum galeriflorum | Stokes | Bot. Mat. Med. 3: 216 (1812) |
| Aconitum intermedium | Host | Fl. Austriac. [Host] 2: 69. 1831 |
| Aconitum jacquinianum | Host | Fl. Austriaca 2: 68 (1831) |
| Aconitum lagoctonum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 71 (1819) |
| Aconitum luparia | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 74 (1819) |
| Aconitum lupicida | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 70 (1819) |
| Aconitum meloctonum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 65 (1819) |
| Aconitum monanense | Schmidt ex Rchb. | Ill. Sp. Acon. Gen. : t. LI (1825) |
| Aconitum myoctonum | Rchb. | Ill. Sp. Acon. Gen. : t. LI (1825) |
| Aconitum ochroleucum | hort. ex Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. [Steudel], ed. 2. i. 19. |
| Aconitum perniciosum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 68 (1819) |
| Aconitum phthora | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum 71. 1819 [28 Mar 1819] |
| Aconitum pyrenaicum | L. | Sp. Pl. : 532 (1753) |
| Aconitum rectum | Bernh. ex Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 69 (1819) |
| Aconitum rogoviczii | Wissjul. | Ukrayins'k. Bot. Zhurn. 6(2): 59 (1949) |
| Aconitum squarrosum | L. ex B.D.Jacks. | Index Linn. Herb. : 28 (1912) |
| Aconitum strictissimum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum 69. 1819 [28 Mar 1819] |
| Aconitum tenuisectum | Schur | Verh. Naturf. Vereins Brünn 15(2): 65 (1877) |
| Aconitum thelyphonum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 73 (1819) |
| Aconitum theriophonum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum : 73 (1819) |
| Aconitum toxicarium | Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 375 (1796) |
| Aconitum transilvanicum | Lerch. ex Schur | Verh. Mitth. Siebenbürg. Vereins Naturwiss. Hermannstadt 10: 165 (1859) |
| Aconitum umbraticola | Schur | Verh. Naturf. Vereins Brünn 15(2): 65 (1877) |
| Aconitum vulparia f. galactonum | Rchb. ex Gáyer | |
| Aconitum vulparia var. glabriflorum | DC. | |
| Aconitum vulparia f. hirtisepalum | Gáyer | |
| Aconitum vulparia var. phthora | Rchb. | |
| Aconitum vulparia f. umbraticolum | (Schur) Gáyer | |
| Aconitum wraberi | Starm. | Fritschiana 48: 10 (2004) |
| Aconitum zooctonum | Rchb. | Uebers. Aconitum 65. 1819 [28 Mar 1819] |
| Delphinium lycoctonum | Baill. | Traité Bot. Méd. Phan. 1: 477 (1883) |
| Aconitum lycoctonum var. myoctonum | (Rchb.) Regel | Index Seminum (LE) 1861: 41 1861 |
| Aconitum lycoctonum var. septentrionale | Regel | Index Seminum (LE) 1861: 41 1861 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Spanish | aconitum tenuisectum |
| Spanish | aconitum rectum |
| Spanish | aconitum intermedium |
| Spanish | aconitum phthora |
| Spanish | aconitum perniciosum |
| Spanish | aconitum vulparia var. phthora |
| Spanish | aconitum alienum |
| Spanish | aconitum luparia |
| Spanish | aconitum vulparia f. galactonum |
| Spanish | aconitum lupicida |
| Arabic | أكونيت قاتل |
| Azerbaijani | qurdboğan kəpənəkçiçək |
| azb | قوردبوغان کپنکچیچک |
| Belarusian | боцікі паўночныя |
| Belarusian | боцікі высокія |
| Belarusian | ваўкабойнік |
| Belarusian | Боцікі звычайныя |
| Bulgarian | северна самакитка |
| Czech | oměj vlčí mor |
| Welsh | cwcwll-y-mynach melyn |
| German | wolfs-eisenhut |
| German | gelber eisenhut |
| Estonian | kollane käoking |
| Finnish | hukanukonhattu |
| Finnish | lehtoukonhattu |
| Croatian | oštrobridi jedić |
| Upper Sorbian | wjelkimór |
| Upper Sorbian | Žołte črijki |
| Icelandic | týshjálmur |
| Italian | aconito di lamarck |
| Italian | aconito vulparia |
| Kazakh | Бәрпі |
| Polish | aconitum excelsum |
| Polish | tojad lisi |
| Russian | Семилапка |
| Russian | Аконит северный |
| Russian | Борец волчий |
| Russian | Борец высокий |
| Russian | Борец северный |
| Russian | Кукушкины сапожки |
| Russian | Филичева трава |
| Russian | борец обыкновенный |
| Russian | Синий омег |
| Russian | Волчьи лапы |
| Slovak | prilbica žltá |
| Slovenian | ozkočeladasta preobjeda |
| Swedish | alpstormhatt |
| tt | Биек аю табаны |
| tt | Биек аю көпшәсе |
| Ukrainian | тоя вовкобійна |
| Ukrainian | аконіт Бессера |
| Chinese | 北方狼毒草 |
| Chinese | 狼毒乌头 |
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; good germination with fresh seed and with seed stored dry x 5 months |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Europe click to expand
-
Eastern Europe
- Belarus
- Central European Russia
- East European Russia
- North European Russia
- Northwest European Russia
- South European Russia
- Ukraine
-
Middle Europe
- Czechoslovakia
- Germany
- Poland
-
Northern Europe
- Great Britain
-
Eastern Europe
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000517589 |
| UNII | EX75Q30TX6 |
| Canadensys | 8404 |
| USDA Plants | ACLY |
| Tropicos | 27103747 |
| INPN | 80034 |
| Flora of Italy | 1012 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:707564-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2619019 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 14055 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 112589 |
| NBN Atlas | NHMSYS0100000361 |
| Nature Serve | 2.925690 |
| IPNI | 707564-1 |
| iNaturalist | 57453 |
| GBIF | 3033675 |
| Freebase | /m/0cz384 |
| EPPO | AAOLY |
| EOL | 478047 |
| Elurikkus | 2518 |
| USDA GRIN | 401434 |
| Wikipedia | Aconitum_lycoctonum |
| Plantarium | 592 |
| PFAF | Aconitum lycoctonum |
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)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Aconitane-type diterpenoid alkaloids | |||||
| (1S,2R,3R,4S,5R,6S,8R,9R,10S,13S,16S,17R,18S)-11-ethyl-13-(hydroxymethyl)-4,6,18-trimethoxy-11-azahexacyclo[7.7.2.12,5.01,10.03,8.013,17]nonadecane-8,9,16-triol | 162924077 | Click to see | 453.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| (1S,2R,3R,4S,5R,6S,8R,9R,10S,13S,16S,17R,18S)-11-ethyl-4,6-dimethoxy-13-(methoxymethyl)-11-azahexacyclo[7.7.2.12,5.01,10.03,8.013,17]nonadecane-8,9,16,18-tetrol | 162859297 | Click to see CCN1CC2(CCC(C34C2C(C(C31)(C5(CC(C6CC4C5C6OC)OC)O)O)O)O)COC | 453.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| (1S,2R,3R,4S,5R,6S,8R,9S,10S,13S,16R,17R,18S)-11-ethyl-13-(hydroxymethyl)-4,6,16,18-tetramethoxy-11-azahexacyclo[7.7.2.12,5.01,10.03,8.013,17]nonadecane-8,9-diol | 162944122 | Click to see | 467.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/ARDP.19132510104 |
| (1S,5R,6S,8R,9S,13S,16S)-11-ethyl-13-(hydroxymethyl)-4,6,16,18-tetramethoxy-11-azahexacyclo[7.7.2.12,5.01,10.03,8.013,17]nonadecane-8,9-diol | 145994515 | Click to see CCN1CC2(CCC(C34C2C(C(C31)(C5(CC(C6CC4C5C6OC)OC)O)O)OC)OC)CO | 467.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| [(1R,2R,3R,4R,5R,6S,8R,9R,10R,13R,16S,17S,18S)-11-ethyl-8,9,16-trihydroxy-4,6-dimethoxy-13-(methoxymethyl)-11-azahexacyclo[7.7.2.12,5.01,10.03,8.013,17]nonadecan-18-yl] acetate | 163043018 | Click to see CCN1CC2(CCC(C34C2C(C(C31)(C5(CC(C6CC4C5C6OC)OC)O)O)OC(=O)C)O)COC | 495.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| [(1R,2S,3S,4S,5S,6S,8S,9R,10R,13R,16S,17S,18R)-11-ethyl-8,9-dihydroxy-4,6,16-trimethoxy-13-(methoxymethyl)-11-azahexacyclo[7.7.2.12,5.01,10.03,8.013,17]nonadecan-18-yl] acetate | 162871749 | Click to see CCN1CC2(CCC(C34C2C(C(C31)(C5(CC(C6CC4C5C6OC)OC)O)O)OC(=O)C)OC)COC | 509.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| [(1S,2R,3R,4S,5R,6S,8R,9R,10S,13S,16S,17R,18S)-11-ethyl-8,9-dihydroxy-4,6,16-trimethoxy-13-(methoxymethyl)-11-azahexacyclo[7.7.2.12,5.01,10.03,8.013,17]nonadecan-18-yl] acetate | 162871747 | Click to see CCN1CC2(CCC(C34C2C(C(C31)(C5(CC(C6CC4C5C6OC)OC)O)O)OC(=O)C)OC)COC | 509.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| [(1S,2R,3R,4S,5R,6S,8R,9R,10S,13S,16S,17R,18S)-11-ethyl-8,9,16-trihydroxy-4,6-dimethoxy-13-(methoxymethyl)-11-azahexacyclo[7.7.2.12,5.01,10.03,8.013,17]nonadecan-18-yl] acetate | 163043019 | Click to see CCN1CC2(CCC(C34C2C(C(C31)(C5(CC(C6CC4C5C6OC)OC)O)O)OC(=O)C)O)COC | 495.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| [11-Ethyl-8,9-dihydroxy-4,6,16-trimethoxy-13-(methoxymethyl)-11-azahexacyclo[7.7.2.12,5.01,10.03,8.013,17]nonadecan-18-yl] acetate | 73157929 | Click to see CCN1CC2(CCC(C34C2C(C(C31)(C5(CC(C6CC4C5C6OC)OC)O)O)OC(=O)C)OC)COC | 509.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| [11-Ethyl-8,9,16-trihydroxy-4,6-dimethoxy-13-(methoxymethyl)-11-azahexacyclo[7.7.2.12,5.01,10.03,8.013,17]nonadecan-18-yl] acetate | 73804837 | Click to see | 495.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| 11-Ethyl-4,6-dimethoxy-13-(methoxymethyl)-11-azahexacyclo[7.7.2.12,5.01,10.03,8.013,17]nonadecane-8,9,16,18-tetrol | 73804839 | Click to see | 453.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| CID 11972492 | 11972492 | Click to see CCN1CC2(CCC(C34C2C(C(C31)(C5(CC(C6CC4C5C6OC)OC)O)O)OC)OC)CO | 467.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| CID 99924 | 99924 | Click to see CCN1CC2(CCC(C34C2C(C(C31)(C5(CC(C6CC4C5C6OC)OC)O)O)OC)OC)CO | 467.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ARDP.19132510104 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
| Paniculine | 181763 | Click to see | 453.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP980576Q |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |