The genus Delphinium is divided into two subgenera in the «Flora». Species belonging to the subgenus Eudelphinium are perennial herbaceous plants, while those in the subgenus Consolida are annuals (it has been proposed to separate Consolida into an independent family).
The leaves are usually rounded, with palmate venation, more or less deeply lobed or dissected, alternate, and have petioles. The inflorescence is a raceme. Flowers are irregular, with a calyx of five petal-like colored sepals. The upper sepal is flat and extends into a spur. In the subgenus Eudelphinium, there are two petals modified into nectar glands, also elongated into spurs that fit into the calyx spur, and two petal-like staminodes. In the subgenus Consolida, there is one nectar gland in the form of a spur and no staminodes. Numerous stamens and a superior ovary. The fruit consists of 1–5 multi-seeded follicles.
Delphinium species differ from Aconitum, which also have lobed leaves and irregular flowers, but their upper sepals are shaped like a helmet or hood and lack a spur.
Not all species have been chemically studied.
Delphinium elatum L. contains the alkaloid elatin.
D. confusum M. Pop. contains the alkaloid condelphin.
D. dictyocarpum DC. contains the alkaloid methyllycaconitine.
D. semibarbatum Bien. and D. rotundifolium Alan. contain the alkaloid delsemin.
Delphinium elatum grows in the European part and Siberia, while other species are found in Central Asia.
Some species from the North Caucasus contain significant amounts of methyllycaconitine among their alkaloids. These alkaloids belong to isoquinoline derivatives and exhibit curare-like effects.
Curare is a poison used by South American indigenous peoples that paralyzes skeletal muscles. For the past three decades, the active principle of curare, d-tubocurarine, has been used to relax skeletal muscles during surgery in combination with anesthetics such as ether or halothane.
Due to the scarcity of d-tubocurarine, synthetic compounds have been developed. Attempts have been made to find similar substances among Delphinium alkaloids, though they have not been used in surgery. However, their ability to reduce muscle tone is utilized in neurology for conditions involving increased muscle tone and motor dysfunction.
The preparations condelphin and mellictin have been approved for medical use.
Mellictin: 0.02 g tablets, taken 1–5 times daily, for several weeks.
Condelphin: 0.025 g, 1–3 times daily, under medical supervision for extended treatment.