Hypaconitine, an active and highly toxic constituent derived from Aconitum species, possesses anti-inflammatory activity and is widely used to treat rheumatism.

Hypaconitine (0.08-2 microM) depressed the nerve-evoked twitch tension, without affecting the contraction evoked by stimulation of the muscle,At the concentrations of hypaconitine (up to 5 microM)that depressed the nerve-evoked twitch tension, the resting membrane potential of the muscle cells was unchanged. Hypaconitine (0.1-2 microM) blocked the end-plate potential (epp), without affecting the amplitude of the miniature epp (mepp). The quantal content of end-plate potentials was decreased by these agents in parallel with the decrement in amplitude.

Adult Wistar rats were orally administered?Hypaconitine?(0.23, 0.69, 2.07 mg/kg per day), liquiritin (20 mg/kg per day), or?Hypaconitine?(2.07 mg/kg per day) plus liquiritin (20 mg/kg per day) for seven consecutive days. The mRNA expression levels of CaM and Cx43 in rat myocardial tissue were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. The protein contents of CaM and phosphorylated Cx43 (Ser368) were determined by Western blot