Researchers Detect Aconitine on Ming-Era Surgical Tools in Xia Quan Tomb

Researchers detected aconitine on ten surgical tools recovered from the tomb of Ming-era surgeon Xia Quan, providing physical evidence that the toxic plant compound served as a topical anaesthetic during the 14th century. The compound comes from the Aconitum plant family, commonly known as wolfsbane or monkshood, and is described as a highly toxic diterpenoid alkaloid.

Study author Zhao Congcang of Northwest University in Xian, Shaanxi province, stated that aconitine activates sodium ion channels in nerve cell membranes.

Constant stimulation of those channels produces temporary nerve excitation followed by inhibition, Zhao said. The findings were reported by @SCMPNews on 13 June 2026.