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Gelsemium

Gelsemium is a genus of three species of evergreen twining vines and shrubs in the family Gelsemiaceae, native to subtropical regions of North America and Asia.^[1] The plants feature opposite lanceolate leaves, fragrant funnel-shaped yellow flowers, and contain potent indole alkaloids such as gelsemine and rankinine, rendering them highly toxic to humans and animals.^[2] Gelsemium sempervirens, the type species endemic to the southeastern United States, is valued ornamentally and serves as the state flower of South Carolina and North Carolina, though all parts are poisonous if ingested.^[3] In traditional medicine across Asia and North America, extracts have been employed for treating neuralgia, rheumatism, and fevers, but clinical evidence for efficacy is limited, and poisoning incidents underscore the risks of overdose leading to respiratory failure and death.^[4] Gelsemium elegans, native to Southeast Asia, exemplifies extreme toxicity, with documented cases of rapid fatality from minimal ingestion due to its potent alkaloids disrupting GABA receptors.^[5] Despite potential pharmacological interest in antitumor and analgesic properties, the genus's alkaloids demand rigorous detoxification for any therapeutic application, as undiluted forms consistently prove lethal in empirical toxicology studies.^[6]

Taxonomy

Classification and etymology

Gelsemium is a genus of three accepted species of twining shrubs and lianas in the family Gelsemiaceae, within the order Gentianales.^[7] ^[1] The genus belongs to the clade of asterids among eudicot angiosperms, under the kingdom Plantae.^[7] Prior classifications placed Gelsemium within the broader Loganiaceae family, but molecular phylogenetic studies since the 1990s have supported its segregation into the distinct Gelsemiaceae, comprising genera with iridoid-containing compounds and specific floral traits.^[4] The full taxonomic hierarchy is as follows:

Kingdom: Plantae^[7]
Phylum: Tracheophyta^[7]
Class: Magnoliopsida^[7]
Order: Gentianales^[7]
Family: Gelsemiaceae^[7]
Genus: Gelsemium Juss.^[7]

The genus was established by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789 in his Genera Plantarum.^[8] The name Gelsemium is a Latinization of the Italian gelsomino, referring to jasmine, derived ultimately from the Persian-Arabic yāsamīn (جاسمین), due to superficial similarities in the fragrant, funnel-shaped yellow flowers of some species to those of jasmines (Jasminum spp.).^[9] ^[8] This etymology reflects early European botanical observations of the plant's jasmine-like appearance, though Gelsemium species differ in their woody habit, toxicity, and native distribution across subtropical to temperate regions of North America and Asia.^[9]

Recognized species

The genus Gelsemium comprises three accepted species, all belonging to the family Gelsemiaceae (formerly classified within Loganiaceae). These species are shrubs or twining climbers characterized by their funnel-shaped yellow flowers and toxic properties due to indole alkaloids.^[7] Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) J. St.-Hil. is the type species, native to the southeastern United States from Virginia south to Florida and west to Texas, typically found in sandy soils and woodlands. It is widely recognized for its ornamental value and historical use in traditional medicine, though highly poisonous.^[7]^[10] Gelsemium rankinii Small, also known as swamp jessamine, is endemic to the coastal plain of the southeastern United States, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina, often in wet, swampy habitats. It is rarer and more localized than G. sempervirens, with narrower leaves and a more restricted distribution.^[7]^[11] Gelsemium elegans (Gardner & Champ.) Benth. occurs in subtropical and tropical regions of Southeast Asia, including southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, inhabiting forests and scrublands. It is distinguished by its more robust growth and has been noted for its potent toxicity in traditional Asian contexts.^[7]^[12] Taxonomic revisions have consolidated earlier synonyms, such as G. rankii for G. rankinii, with no additional species currently accepted based on morphological and molecular evidence.^[7]

Botanical description

Morphology and growth habit

Species of the genus Gelsemium are twining lianas with cylindrical stems exhibiting moderate secondary growth and distinctive islands of interxylary phloem.^[13] The plants display evergreen foliage, with simple, opposite leaves featuring entire margins and pinnate venation, borne on petioles approximately 5 mm long.^[13] Gelsemium sempervirens, native to the southeastern United States, grows as an evergreen twining vine attaining heights of 3.6–6 meters when provided climbing support, or as a bushy ground cover reaching up to 1 meter if unsupported.^[14]^[3] Its stems are thin, wiry, glabrous, and range from greenish-brown to reddish-brown.^[14] Leaves are opposite, simple, shiny lanceolate, 2.5–7.6 cm long and less than 2.5 cm wide, light green, potentially turning yellow to purple in winter and semi-evergreen at northern distributional limits.^[3]^[14] Gelsemium rankinii, restricted to swampy habitats in the southeastern United States, exhibits a similar woody, twining vine habit that can trail or climb high, with non-aromatic stems and evergreen lanceolate leaves possessing smooth, waxy, entire margins.^[11] In contrast, Gelsemium elegans from southern China and Southeast Asia forms an evergreen shrub with straggly stems that scramble over the ground and twine into adjacent vegetation, bearing ovate leaves.^[15]^[16] Inflorescences across the genus consist of axillary, few-flowered racemes subtended by imbricate bracts, yielding bisexual, actinomorphic flowers with bright yellow, funnel-shaped corollas measuring 2.5–3.5 cm in length.^[13]

Habitat, distribution, and ecology

Gelsemium species are twining vines or scrambling shrubs native to subtropical and tropical regions, primarily inhabiting forested thickets and woodland edges where they climb supporting vegetation.^[17]^[15] The genus exhibits a disjunct distribution, with two species in North America and one in Asia, reflecting evolutionary divergence in distinct biogeographic realms.^[2] Gelsemium sempervirens, the most widespread North American species, ranges from southeastern Virginia southward through Florida and westward to eastern Texas, with occurrences also in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras.^[17] It favors sandy maritime forests, dry upland hardwood and pine-oak forests, moist pine flatwoods, and disturbed sites such as roadsides, thickets, and fence rows, tolerating a range from dry to wet conditions in the coastal plain and piedmont.^[17]^[18] Ecologically, it functions as an evergreen climber reaching up to 6 meters, often scrambling over shrubs or trees, with fragrant yellow flowers attracting pollinators like bees in early spring, though its toxicity deters most herbivores.^[3] Gelsemium elegans is distributed across southern China—including Fujian, Guangxi, Hunan, and Guizhou provinces—and extends to Southeast Asia, encompassing India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Taiwan, typically at elevations from sea level to 1,200 meters.^[19]^[15]^[12] This species thrives in scrubby forests, thickets, and secondary woodlands on varied soils, often in high-altitude areas where it grows as a woody climber.^[15]^[20] Its ecology involves similar climbing habits, supporting floral displays that draw insect pollinators amid tropical understories, while alkaloids render it unpalatable to grazers.^[2] A third species, Gelsemium rankinii, is rarer and confined to the southeastern U.S. coastal plain, overlapping habitats with G. sempervirens but showing genetic distinctions that influence microhabitat preferences.^[21] Across the genus, ecological roles are limited by potent toxicity, which concentrates in roots and stems, reducing interactions with wildlife beyond specialized pollinators and potentially deterring invasive spread in non-native ranges.^[2]

Phytochemistry

Primary active alkaloids

The genus Gelsemium is characterized by over 70 alkaloids, with indole alkaloids comprising the predominant class and serving as the primary active constituents responsible for its pharmacological, analgesic, and toxic effects.^[22] These compounds, accounting for approximately 0.5% of the plant's dry weight, are concentrated in the roots, stems, and leaves, and include structurally diverse monoterpenoid indole alkaloids classified into types such as gelsemine-, koumine-, humantenine-, gelsedine-, and sarpagine-types.^[22]^[2] In Gelsemium sempervirens, gelsemine (C₂₀H₂₂N₂O₂) stands as the principal active alkaloid, exhibiting potent antinociceptive activity through modulation of spinal α3 glycine receptors and inhibition of glycine and GABA_A receptors.^[23]^[24] Gelsemicine and sempervirine are also significant, with the former acting as a respiratory depressant and the latter displaying antimitotic and vasoconstrictive properties.^[2] For Gelsemium elegans, koumine emerges as the dominant alkaloid, demonstrating analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic effects via competitive antagonism at glycine and GABA_A receptors (IC₅₀ values of 31.5 μM at α1 glycine receptors).^[23]^[24] Other key alkaloids include gelsevirine, which inhibits glycine receptors (IC₅₀ 40.6 μM at α1), and humantenine, though the latter shows limited direct activity on these targets.^[24] Gelsedine- and humantenine-type alkaloids represent primary toxic components across species, with low LD₅₀ values in mice (e.g., gelsedine LD₅₀ ≈ 50 mg/kg), contributing to cytotoxicity and neurological effects through enzyme inhibition and receptor modulation.^[25]^[2] These alkaloids' bioactivities underscore Gelsemium's dual therapeutic potential and inherent toxicity, necessitating precise isolation for research.^[24]

Other constituents

In addition to its primary alkaloids, Gelsemium sempervirens contains steroids, coumarins, and iridoids as secondary constituents, particularly in roots and rhizomes, with over 120 alkaloids dominating but these classes contributing to the plant's overall phytochemistry.^[26] Cytotoxic steroids have been isolated from G. sempervirens, exhibiting notable bioactivity in preliminary assays.^[27] Iridoids, including 9-hydroxy-substituted variants, are present in G. sempervirens, while iridoid glycosides and related structures occur in Gelsemium elegans.^[28] ^[29] ^[30] Coumarins, such as scopoletin, have been identified across Gelsemium species, alongside flavonoids, phenolics, phytosterols, and saponins confirmed via phytochemical screening of multiple taxa.^[31] ^[32] ^[33] These non-alkaloidal components, though less studied than alkaloids, may influence the plant's toxicity and pharmacological potential, with approximately 200 total compounds documented genus-wide including these classes.^[31] Non-alkaloid fractions in G. elegans encompass steroids and iridoids, supporting broader chemotaxonomic patterns in Gelsemiaceae.^[30]

Toxicology and pharmacology

Toxic mechanisms

The primary toxic constituents of Gelsemium species are indole alkaloids, particularly gelsedine-type compounds such as gelsenicine and humantenine-type alkaloids, along with gelsemine and koumine, which exhibit acute neurotoxicity through disruption of inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system.^[24]^[25] These alkaloids bind to and modulate ionotropic receptors, including glycine receptors (GlyRs) and GABA_A receptors, with gelsemine acting as a partial agonist at the orthosteric site of GlyRs and a functional modulator of both GlyRs and GABA_A receptors, thereby altering chloride ion influx and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials.^[24]^[25] At toxic doses, this modulation shifts toward antagonism or excessive inhibition, mimicking strychnine-like effects where blockade of glycine-mediated inhibition leads to hyperexcitability, convulsions, and motor neuron disinhibition.^[34] In the ventral respiratory group (VRG) of the brainstem, Gelsemium alkaloids demonstrate high selectivity for GABA_A receptors, suppressing respiratory drive and causing profound respiratory depression through reduced neuronal firing in medullary respiratory centers.^[35] Gelsenicine, among the most potent toxins with an LD50 of approximately 0.128 mg/kg in mice, further impairs spinal motor neuron function without inducing structural damage, resulting in flaccid paralysis of respiratory muscles and skeletal muscles via interference with nerve conduction and synaptic transmission.^[5]^[36] Koumine contributes by targeting GABA_A receptors, exacerbating central inhibition and contributing to coma-like states in overdose.^[25] Systemic toxicity arises from rapid absorption of these lipophilic alkaloids, leading to widespread CNS depression that overrides peripheral effects; while some older reports suggest acetylcholine receptor antagonism, contemporary pharmacological evidence prioritizes glycinergic and GABAergic pathways as the dominant mechanisms, with lethality often tied to respiratory failure rather than direct cardiotoxicity.^[24]^[37] Experimental rodent models confirm dose-dependent progression from ataxia and ptosis to fatal apnea, underscoring the alkaloids' role in uncoupling inhibitory control from excitatory inputs.^[38]

Clinical symptoms and pathology

Poisoning by Gelsemium species, particularly G. elegans and G. sempervirens, manifests primarily through neurotoxic effects due to indole alkaloids such as gelsemine and koumine, leading to rapid onset of symptoms typically within 30-120 minutes of ingestion.^[39] ^[5] Common initial symptoms include severe dizziness (reported in 100% of cases in a review of 33 incidents), blurred vision (34%), nausea (28%), vomiting (19%), generalized weakness (19%), and ptosis (19%), with over half of patients exhibiting ocular disturbances like nystagmus or diplopia.^[39] These arise from peripheral nerve blockade and central nervous system depression, progressing to muscle paralysis, tremors, and clonic convulsions in moderate to severe exposures.^[40] ^[2] In advanced stages, respiratory depression dominates, with dyspnea, hypoxia, and potential coma; fatalities often occur within 30 minutes to hours from diaphragmatic paralysis and ventilatory failure, as seen in cases requiring mechanical ventilation for survival.^[5] Autonomic effects may include mydriasis, hypersalivation, urination, and defecation, alongside cardiovascular instability such as tachycardia or hypotension.^[2] For G. sempervirens, symptoms mirror those of G. elegans but are generally less potent, featuring depressed respiration, extremity paralysis, and retching, though human cases are rarer and often milder.^[2] Pathologically, Gelsemium alkaloids disrupt neuronal signaling, likely via competitive antagonism at glycine and GABA receptors, inducing flaccid paralysis and central excitation followed by depression; lethal doses trigger violent convulsions via medullary stimulation before respiratory arrest.^[41] Hypoxic sequelae include acidosis, basal ganglia and hippocampal damage visible on MRI, with potential long-term cognitive impairments like memory deficits persisting months post-exposure despite recovery.^[5] Histological changes emphasize neuronal hypoxia over direct cytotoxicity, with no specific antidotes identified beyond supportive care.^[37] Most cases (94% in reviewed series) resolve mildly with symptomatic management, but severe intoxications carry high mortality without prompt airway support.^[39]

Treatment protocols

No specific antidote exists for Gelsemium poisoning, with management relying on supportive and symptomatic measures to address the neurotoxic effects of its alkaloids, such as gelsemine and gelsenicine.^[6] ^[39] Gastrointestinal decontamination is recommended for early presentations, typically within 1-2 hours of ingestion, using gastric lavage followed by administration of activated charcoal (1 g/kg dose) and cathartics to reduce toxin absorption; this approach was applied in approximately 34% of documented cases in a Hong Kong cohort.^[5] ^[39] In vitro and animal studies suggest activated charcoal effectively binds Gelsemium alkaloids, though human efficacy data remain limited to case reports.^[40] Vital sign monitoring and respiratory support constitute the core of intensive care, including mechanical ventilation for paralysis-induced respiratory failure, which occurs in severe cases progressing within hours of exposure.^[42] Intravenous fluid resuscitation, electrolyte correction, and acid-base balance maintenance are essential to counteract dehydration, hypotension, and metabolic disturbances; blood perfusion has been used adjunctively in critical Gelsemium elegans cases to enhance toxin clearance.^[43] Antiemetics control nausea and vomiting, while benzodiazepines like diazepam may mitigate convulsions or agitation based on preclinical evidence for gelsenicine antagonism.^[36] Prognosis improves with prompt intervention, as delays beyond 4-6 hours correlate with higher risks of irreversible neurological damage or fatality, per analyses of Asian poisoning clusters where G. elegans predominates but mechanisms overlap with G. sempervirens.^[37] Experimental detoxification strategies, such as oral animal blood administration in rural Chinese settings, lack rigorous validation and are not endorsed in standard protocols.^[37]

Poisoning cases

Historical and notable incidents

In ancient Chinese legend, the emperor and herbalist Shennong (circa 2700 BCE) is said to have been fatally poisoned by Gelsemium elegans, earning the plant the epithet "duan chang cao" or "heartbreak grass" due to its cardiac and respiratory depressive effects.^[43] One of the earliest documented medical cases in Western literature occurred in 1881, when a fatal poisoning by Gelsemium sempervirens was reported in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal; the victim exhibited severe neurological symptoms leading to death, highlighting the plant's potent alkaloid toxicity even in medicinal doses.^[44] In a notable criminal incident on December 23, 2011, Chinese timber magnate Long Liyuan, aged 49, died of cardiac arrest after consuming cat meat stew laced with G. elegans leaves during a lunch in Guangdong province; police investigations implicated a local official, Huang, who was detained for allegedly adding the poison to the dish amid business disputes.^[45]^[46] The death of Russian whistleblower Alexander Perepilichnyy on November 10, 2012, near his Surrey residence in the United Kingdom, drew attention when toxicological analysis revealed traces of G. elegans alkaloids in his stomach contents, prompting suspicions of assassination linked to his exposure of Russian financial fraud; however, the subsequent inquest left the cause undetermined, citing possible natural cardiac events despite the rare plant toxin's presence.^[47]^[48]

Modern accidental poisonings

In recent decades, accidental poisonings by Gelsemium elegans have been reported primarily in southern China and Hong Kong, often due to foraging errors where the plant is mistaken for edible or medicinal species such as Mussaenda pubescens. In 2007, a couple ingested G. elegans collected in the countryside, believing it to be the non-toxic M. pubescens; one developed respiratory failure requiring intubation, while the other experienced dizziness, with both managed through supportive care including close monitoring.^[49] A 2025 incident involved three family members who accidentally consumed a home-prepared herbal broth containing G. elegans, misidentified as a safe medicinal plant; symptoms onset within 20 minutes, including dizziness, blurred vision, limb weakness, numbness, nausea, convulsions, and progression to coma, cyanosis, and respiratory failure with oxygen saturation dropping to 68% in one case.^[42] All received emergency interventions such as endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, gastric lavage, and hemoperfusion, recovering fully and discharging after five days without neurological sequelae.^[42] For Gelsemium sempervirens, human accidental ingestions remain exceedingly rare, with documented cases limited to isolated pediatric incidents, such as a 1979 report of a child poisoned by sucking nectar from the flowers, mimicking honeysuckle.^[50] Symptoms typically involve acute neurological effects like vision disturbances and weakness, but no large-scale modern outbreaks or foraging-related clusters have been noted, reflecting the plant's ornamental use in North America rather than culinary contexts.^[51] Overall, statistical reviews indicate over 600 accidental Gelsemium ingestions reported globally up to 2019, predominantly G. elegans cases tied to traditional practices, underscoring the genus's narrow margin between toxicity and perceived utility.^[37]

Rare addiction reports

Reports of addiction to Gelsemium species or their extracts are exceedingly rare and largely confined to historical anecdotes without corroboration in modern clinical or toxicological literature. In his 1924 monograph Phantastica: Die betäubenden und erregenden Genussmittel, German pharmacologist Louis Lewin described a single case of purported addiction involving repeated ingestion of an alcoholic tincture of Gelsemium sempervirens. According to Lewin, the individual, seeking relief from rheumatism, escalated doses over time, developing tolerance and compulsive use characterized by neurological symptoms such as weakness and tremors, eventually requiring intervention to cease consumption. This account, drawn from early 20th-century clinical observations, lacks detailed verification or follow-up data and has not been replicated in subsequent studies. Contemporary pharmacological research on key alkaloids like gelsemine from Gelsemium elegans indicates no evidence of physical dependence or addictive potential, positioning it as a candidate for analgesic use without the risks associated with opioids.^[52] Peer-reviewed databases, including PubMed, yield no case reports of addiction, abuse, or withdrawal syndromes linked to Gelsemium ingestion, despite extensive documentation of its acute toxicity and poisoning incidents exceeding 1,000 cases globally as of 2019.^[37] The absence of such reports aligns with the plant's profile as a potent convulsant and respiratory depressant at therapeutic or higher doses, rather than a euphoriant fostering habitual use. Experimental models exploring anxiolytic and antinociceptive effects at low doses report no behavioral indicators of dependence.

Medicinal uses

Traditional and folk applications

Species of the genus Gelsemium have been employed in traditional medicine for managing pain and inflammatory conditions, with applications varying by region and species. In traditional Chinese medicine, G. elegans roots have served as a nervous system relaxant since ancient times, addressing headaches, neuralgia, rheumatic pain, sciatica, and skin ulcers or sores through decoctions or extracts.^[2]^[53] Folk practices in China extended its use to bone fractures and dermatitis, often in small doses to mitigate toxicity.^[54] For G. sempervirens in North America, medicinal applications emerged in the 19th century among herbalists in the southeastern United States, focusing on the rhizome and roots for neuralgia, migraines, and facial nerve pain, as well as symptomatic relief in fevers and rheumatism.^[31]^[54] These uses paralleled broader genus traditions for sores and purported anticancer effects, though documentation of pre-colonial indigenous applications remains scarce, with most recorded employments tied to early Western herbalism rather than extensive folk ethnobotany.^[54] Preparations typically involved tinctures or infusions, administered cautiously due to recognized poisonous potential.^[55]

Experimental pharmacological research

Experimental research on Gelsemium alkaloids, particularly gelsemine and koumine from Gelsemium sempervirens and Gelsemium elegans, has demonstrated anxiolytic and analgesic effects in rodent models. In elevated plus-maze tests, intraperitoneal administration of gelsemine at concentrations of 10^{-6} M to 10^{-10} M to male Sprague-Dawley rats increased entries and time spent in open arms while reducing protected stretched attend postures, indicating reduced anxiety-like behavior without altering general locomotor activity; diazepam (1.25 mg/kg) served as a positive control.^[56] Similar anxiolytic outcomes were observed in mice using light-dark box and open-field tests with raw alcoholic extracts or isolated alkaloids, suggesting modulation of fear responses via central nervous system pathways.^[57] Mechanistically, gelsemine enhances glycine receptor activity through electrophysiological assays on recombinant and native receptors, contributing to both anxiolytic and antinociceptive effects in behavioral models of anxiety and pain. It also negatively modulates GABA_A receptors (IC_{50} ≈ 89.1 μM in α1β2γ2 subtypes), reducing agonist-evoked currents by up to 49.6% in cortical neurons and decreasing presynaptic GABAergic synaptic event frequency, though this action aligns more closely with toxicity profiles than direct therapeutic anxiolysis.^[58] Analgesic studies in mice reported dose-dependent relief of neuropathic pain and thermal hyperalgesia at 2–4 mg/kg gelsemine and 0.28–7.0 mg/kg koumine, potentially via glycine receptor agonism and neurosteroid pathways like increased allopregnanolone.^[57] Additional in vitro findings include gelsemine's inhibition of transglutaminase 2 activity, reducing Aβ peptide toxicity and protein cross-linking relevant to neurodegeneration models.^[59] Pathway-focused gene expression analyses in human SH-SY5Y neurocytes treated with G. sempervirens extracts revealed alterations in G-protein signaling, calcium homeostasis, and neurotransmitter receptor genes, supporting broader neuropharmacological impacts.^[60] These effects, observed across species, highlight potential for alkaloid-based interventions but require further validation given the plant's narrow therapeutic window due to inherent toxicity.^[57]

Homeopathic claims and evidence critique

In homeopathy, Gelsemium sempervirens is indicated for conditions resembling its proving symptoms, including influenza-like illnesses marked by heavy eyelids, drowsiness, muscular weakness, trembling, chills up the back, and absence of thirst, as well as headaches with vertigo, neuralgias, and anxiety with anticipatory fear.^[55] Proponents claim it provides relief in acute viral infections, such as flu with prostration and low-grade fever, based on the principle of similia similibus curantur, with preparations typically in potencies from 6C to 30C or higher.^[31] Historical use during epidemics, including anecdotal reports from the 1918 influenza pandemic, suggested efficacy when matched to symptom pictures, though these lack controlled data.^[61] Evidence supporting these claims derives primarily from case reports, observational studies, and small-scale trials, often conducted by homeopathic practitioners. For instance, a 2011 study reported behavioral improvements in mice exposed to homeopathic doses (4C to 30C) under anxiogenic conditions, attributing effects to GABAergic modulation, but this preclinical model does not translate to human efficacy.^[62] Clinical trials, such as a 2010 investigation into anticipatory anxiety (e.g., pre-exam stress), tested Gelsemium 9CH but yielded inconclusive results due to methodological limitations like small sample sizes and lack of blinding rigor. A 2024 observational study on Gelsemium LM potencies for insomnia in IT professionals reported symptom reduction in 20 participants via Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores, yet featured no placebo control or randomization, rendering it prone to bias and placebo response.^[64] Critiques highlight the absence of high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrating superiority over placebo for Gelsemium. Systematic reviews of homeopathy, including those for influenza-like illnesses, find no reliable evidence of efficacy beyond nonspecific effects, with meta-analyses of over 100 trials showing outcomes indistinguishable from placebo after adjusting for bias.^[65] Homeopathic dilutions beyond 12C exceed Avogadro's limit (approximately 10^-16 molar), containing no detectable plant molecules, which precludes pharmacological action and aligns observed effects with expectation bias or regression to the mean rather than causal intervention.^[66] Any reported benefits in low-potency preparations may stem from trace alkaloids like gelsemine, present in nondiluted extracts, rather than homeopathic succussion, as ultra-high dilutions violate principles of dose-response in toxicology and pharmacology.^[57] Regulatory bodies, including the FDA, classify homeopathic products as unproven and warn against reliance for serious conditions due to delayed conventional care.^[67]

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Gelsemium sempervirens - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Gelsemium is a small genus of flowering plant from the family Loganiaceae, comprising five species, three of which are particularly popular. The first of these ...<|separator|>
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Phytoconstituents of various species of Gelsemium - ResearchGate
Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, and phytosterols. Isolation and spectroscopic characterization identified ...Missing: non- | Show results with:non-
[33]
Isolation of phytochemicals and exploration the mechanism of ...
Aug 11, 2025 · The studies of this species have identified several key phytochemicals, including steroids, flavonoids, saponins, iridoids ... Gelsemium ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[34]
Gelsemine | C20H22N2O2 | CID 5390854 - PubChem - NIH
Gelsemine is a toxic alkaloid found in the plant Gelsemium sempervirens. It has convulsant effects with a similar mechanism of action to strychnine.
[35]
The toxic components, toxicological mechanism and effective ...
Jul 11, 2025 · We have shown that Gelsemium toxic alkaloids are highly selective for the GABAA receptor in the VRG, resulting in severe respiratory depression.
[36]
Toxicity assessment of gelsenicine and the search for effective ...
Jan 12, 2022 · Conclusions. Gelsenicine is a highly toxic substance that affects nerve conduction without causing damage; the potential toxic mechanism is ...Missing: action | Show results with:action
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The toxicology and detoxification of Gelsemium - ScienceDirect.com
Gelsedine-type alkaloids are identified as the primary toxic constituents in Gelsemium. Animal experimentation has elucidated the acute neurotoxic impact of ...
[38]
Toxicokinetics of 11 Gelsemium Alkaloids in Rats by UPLC-MS/MS
Jul 15, 2020 · Indole alkaloids are the main chemical components in Gelsemium elegans and the main source of its toxicity.
[39]
Clinical manifestations and causes of gelsemium poisoning in Hong ...
Dec 7, 2018 · The most commonly encountered symptom was dizziness, which was reported in all patients (100%), followed by visual blurring (34%), nausea (28%), ...Missing: pathology | Show results with:pathology
[40]
Yellow Jessamine - Guide to Poisonous Plants
The alkaloids act on nerve endings causing paralysis, muscle weakness, and clonic convulsions. At high doses the alkaloids act centrally on the nervous system ...
[41]
Pharmacological effect and toxicity of alkaloids from Gelsemium ...
Tests in animals showed that the alkaloids exerted analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. At a lethal dose, the alkaloids produced violent clonic convulsions.
[42]
Caution on the severe damage of Gelsemium elegans poisoning
Aug 10, 2025 · Conclusion: G. elegans poisoning is life-threatening, with severe cases rapidly progressing to respiratory/circulatory failure requiring urgent ...
[43]
Caution on the severe damage of Gelsemium elegans poisoning
The conventional treatment approach includes respiratory support, gastric lavage, anti-emetics, blood perfusion, intravenous fluid therapy, and correction of ...
[44]
A Fatal Case of Poisoning by Gelsemium
Jun 6, 2010 · Hospital Practice and Clinical Memoranda; Oct 23, 1890. Supra-Pubic Lithotomy in a Boy of Twelve · Hospital Practice and Clinical Memoranda; Sep ...
[45]
Chinese Tycoon Dies After Eating Poisoned Cat Stew
Jan 4, 2012 · The police now suspect that Mr. Huang slipped Gelsemium elegans, a poisonous herb, into the stew while eating lunch with the tycoon, Long Liyuan, 49.
[46]
China tycoon 'ate poisoned cat-meat stew' - BBC News
Jan 4, 2012 · Poisoned cat-meat stew is suspected to have been used to kill a billionaire in southern China. Police have detained a local official in Guangdong province.
[47]
Russian whistleblower had traces of rare poison in stomach, plant ...
May 18, 2015 · An expert in plant toxicology found traces linked to an extremely poisonous species of gelsemium in the stomach of Alexander Perepilichnyy.
[48]
Alexander Perepilichnyy death: Russian was 'not in fear of his life ...
Jun 5, 2017 · The Russian was originally thought to have died of natural causes, but traces of a chemical that can be found in the poisonous plant Gelsemium ...
[49]
Two Cases of Gelsemium Elegans Benth. Poisoning - Sage Journals
A couple of spouse mistook the Gelsemium elegans Benth. collected in countryside for Mussaenda pubescens Ait. f. and suffered toxicity soon after ingestion.Missing: accidental | Show results with:accidental
[50]
Poisoning with Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens [L.] Ait.)
Poisoning with Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens [L.] Ait.) J Pediatr. 1979 Jun;94(6):998-1001. Authors. M E Blaw, M A Adkisson, D Levin, ...Missing: pediatric | Show results with:pediatric
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Confirmation of Gelsemium Poisoning by Targeted Analysis of Toxic ...
A novel liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry protocol was optimized for the collective detection of gelsemine and related alkaloids from Gelsemium ...
[52]
Application to a pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution study
Gelsemine from Gelsemium elegans Benth is a potential anesthetic and analgesic agent with no physical dependence and opiate addiction.
[53]
Gelsemium - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Gelsemium, a small genus of flowering plant from the family Loganiaceae, comprises five species including the popular Gelsemium sempervirens Ait. and Gelsemium ...
[54]
Medicinal plants of the genus Gelsemium (Gelsemiaceae ... - PubMed
Feb 27, 2014 · Plants of the genus Gelsemium have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of migraines, neuralgia, sciatica, cancer and various types of sores.
[55]
Gelsemium Uses, Benefits & Dosage - Drugs.com
Aug 22, 2025 · Gelsemium has been used in homeopathic remedies for treatment of migraines, dysmenorrhea, facial neuralgia, rheumatism, influenza, fever, uterine pain, nausea, ...Missing: addiction | Show results with:addiction
[56]
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2013.07.010
[57]
Experimental neuropharmacology of Gelsemium sempervirens
Feb 7, 2018 · In Homeopathic Materia Medica, Gelsemium is described as a remedy for a variety of neurological and behavioral symptoms including general ...
[58]
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2022.1083189
[59]
The Alkaloid Gelsemine Reduces Aβ Peptide Toxicity by Targeting ...
May 20, 2025 · Our findings indicate that gelsemine inhibits the activity of transglutaminase 2 (TG2), an enzyme involved in protein cross-linking with emerging roles in Aβ ...1. Introduction · 2. Results · 3. Discussion
[60]
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.02.048
[61]
Efficacy of individualized homeopathy as an adjunct to standard of ...
There is anecdotal evidence that homeopathy was successful during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, in which at least 20–50 million people died worldwide [9].
[62]
Homeopathic Doses of Gelsemium sempervirens Improve the ...
Gelsemium sempervirens is used in homeopathy for treating patients with anxiety related symptoms, however there have been few experimental studies ...Missing: addiction | Show results with:addiction
[63]
https://www.%5Bclinicaltrials.gov
[64]
[PDF] A study to assess the efficacy of homoeopathic medicine Gelsemium ...
This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Gelsemium sempervirens in LM potency for the treatment of insomnia among IT professionals, a ...
[65]
Efficacy of homoeopathic treatment: Systematic review of meta ...
Oct 7, 2023 · The quality of evidence for positive effects of homoeopathy beyond placebo (high/moderate/low/very low) was high for I-HOM and moderate for ALL-HOM and NI-HOM.
[66]
Bias and adverse effects of homeopathy: is scientific criticism in ...
In the case of homeopathic Gelsemium, this means that possible anxiolytic or even depressant/sedative effects may be because of synergistic or antagonistic ...
[67]
Gelsemium - Uses, Side Effects, and More - WebMD
Symptoms of poisoning include headache, vision problems, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, muscle problems, seizures, breathing problems, slowing of the heart, ...