Delphinium Ajacis is a plant in the Ranunculaceae family. It contains several alkaloids including delphinine, ajacine, and methyllyaconitine. Delphinine acts as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and can be used as an antidepressant and anti-inflammatory. It is also used as a diuretic, anthelmintic, and to kill lice. The plant has toxic effects and should only be used externally in small doses under guidance of a health professional due to risk of side effects like low blood pressure, respiratory failure, and skin irritation.

1. Delphinium Ajacis

2. Introduction
 Family: Ranunculaceae
 Botanical Name: Delphinium ajacis
 Common name: Larkspur
 Urdu Name: Jadvar
 Part used: Dried Root, Seed and Flowers
 Chemical Class: Alkaloids

3. Chemical Constituents
 Ajacine
 Delphinine
 Delphisine
 Delavaine
 Methyllyaconitine
 ß-sitosterol
 Aconitine

4. Mechanism of action
• As anti-depressant
Delphinine act as selective serotonine reuptake inhibitor affect
the level of serotonine and are able to reduce depression and
anxiety .
• As anti-inflamatory
Ajacine inhibit COX enzyme, relief symptoms of inflammation
and pain.

5.  As diuretic:
Edema (swallowing of the tissues and body parts) can be treated when
delphinine tincture from the seeds affect the nephron (tubules or
glomeruli).Excessive fluid intake can be eliminated by kidney in form of urine.
 As anthelmintics:
Delphinine tincture used externally for killing the intestinal worm or parasites.
 As anti-lices:
Delphinine is active constituents and toxic in nature used to kill lices from hairs
and body of the castles.
 As lowering of cholesterol medicator:
B-sitosterol lowers cholesterol level by limiting amount of cholesterol to enter
the body because it block few receptors of cholesterol.

6. Uses
 Delphinine is used to kill the intestinal worm
 Delphinine is used as sedative
 Delphinine is to treat the sleeping problems insomia
 Delphinine is used as an analgesic to treat the muscle and bone
 It is used to get rid of lices from hair
 Ajacine is used as anti- inflamatory
 It is used as diuretic
 Ajacine is used as anti neuralgia
 ß-sitosterol is used to lower the cholestrol level by limiting amount of cholestrol
that is able to enter the body

7. Dosage
 It is for external uses only such as analgesic
 For powdered seeds, the dosage is 0.133g-0.2g
 In case of seeds, it may be 2-3 grains
 In case of tinctures, take 1-10 drops diluted in 2ml water
 Dosage depend upon the user’s age, health and several other condition.
 Be sure to consult pharmacist, natural dosage not need to save due to poisonous nature

8. Side Effects
 Delphinine causes muscular spasm
 Causes low blood pressure. If fatal, death may occur
 May cause respiratory collapse and lung failure
 Methyllyaconitine causes blocking of neurotransmitter transmition
 All the part are toxic in nature, if ingested, then causes skin irritation and digestive
discomfort leading to vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain

9. Precautions
 Delphinium species all are toxic, so it directly cannot be used
 Avoid delphinium use during pregnancy or breast-feeding
 Do not apply to skin that is irritated, raw, or has open sores

10. Reference:
 www.Medscape.com
 www.mayoclinic.com
 Text book of pharmacognosy by sir Imran qadir
 Textbook of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry by barren shah

11. End