发表期刊：Journal of Ethnopharmacology

发表时间：2026

Abstract:

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Tiebangchui (TBC), derived from the dried tuberous roots of Aconitum pendulum Busch, is a fundamental Tibetan medicinal herb. It has been traditionally used for over a millennium to treat inflammatory conditions, specifically rheumatic pain, bruises, and swelling. The traditional application of TBC for these inflammation-related disorders strongly suggests the presence of bioactive anti-inflammatory constituents. However, the precise chemical basis underlying this anti-inflammatory activity remains unclear.

Aim of the study

This study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory material basis of TBC through an integrated strategy combining UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS chemical profiling, serum pharmacochemistry for the identification of absorbed components, and bioactivity validation using a zebrafish inflammation model.

Materials and methods

Chemical constituents of the dichloromethane fraction of TBC and rat serum were analyzed by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS. Phytochemical separation techniques were applied to the TBC extract, and a CuSO4-induced zebrafish inflammation model was established for bioactivity assessment.

Results

UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS analysis revealed 50 compounds and 11 prototype components, respectively. The results showed that five compounds, including 3-acetylaconitine (SYX), 16-epi-pyrodeoxyaconitine (LDE), 16-epi-pyroaconine (PY), 16-epi-pyroaconitine (LPY), and 14-O-acetylneoline (OAC), demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects (P < 0.01), reducing tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. Toxicity assays showed that compounds LDE and PY were safe up to 80 μM, while aconitine (WTJ) and 3-deoxyaconitine (STY) exhibited toxicity at low concentrations.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that compounds SYX, LDE, PY, LPY, and OAC are potential anti-inflammatory constituents, with LDE and PY exhibiting promising efficacy and safety profiles for further development. This work successfully bridges traditional Tibetan medicine with modern pharmacological validation, offering new candidate compounds for inflammatory diseases.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2026.121241