Table 4 Content of toxic alkaloids in various processed and unprocessed samples of Aconitum roots

A . heterophyllum

Unprocessed drug material

11.310 ± 0.629

9.680 ± 0.327

13.760 ± 0.022

Drug processed with Cow milk

1.050 ± 0.146

1.964 ± 0.504

0.943 ± 0.016

Filtrate of cow milk decoction

0.274 ± 0.052

1.085 ± 0.62

0.361 ± 0.058

Drug processed with Cow urine

4.700 ± 0.034

2.127 ± 0.433

3.284 ± 0.856

Filtrate of cow urine extraction

5.209 ± 1.426

2.985 ± 0.798

4.076 ± 065

Drug processed with water

1.900 ± 0.002

0.962 ± 0.275

0.119 ± 0.032

Filtrate of aqueous decoction

2.198 ± 0.968

1.086 ± 0.724

0.212 ± 0.105

A . carmichaelii

Unprocessed drug material

16.265 ± 0.082

15.305 ± 0.605

16.245 ± 0.538

Drug processed with Cow milk

2.078 ± 0.002

1.047 ± 0.748

1.797 ± 0.049

Filtrate of cow milk decoction

4.284 ± 0.440

1.288 ± 0.249

1.039 ± 0.138

Drug processed with Cow urine

5.536 ± 0.008

3.518 ± 0.322

4.405 ± 0.122

Filtrate of cow urine extraction

1.361 ± 0.688

3.428 ± 0.127

6.177 ± 1.720

Drug processed with water

1.150 ± 0.445

1.729 ± 0.275

2.829 ± 0.007

Filtrate of aqueous decoction

2.615 ± 0.578

2.40 ± 0.775

3.174 ± 0.583

A . kusnezoffii

Unprocessed drug material

14.405 ± 0.386

14.150 ± 0.605

18.135 ± 0.229

Drug processed with Cow milk

3.960 ± 0.088

4.389 ± 0.060

1.720 ± 0.069

Filtrate of cow milk decoction

7.817 ± 1.707

8.502 ± 1.71

13.658 ± 4.21

Drug processed with Cow urine

11.125 ± 0.101

4.865 ± 0.220

3.088 ± 0.053

Filtrate of cow urine extraction

2.258 ± 0.231

6.689 ± 0.218

3.840 ± 0.33

Drug processed with water

2.050 ± 0.056

2.448 ± 0.150

1.067 ± 0.070

Filtrate of aqueous decoction

4.947 ± 1.749

4.086 ± 1.095

2.863 ± 0.817