Gelsemium elegans

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Gelsemium elegans
Gelsemium elegans 172132805.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Gelsemiaceae
Genus: Gelsemium
Species:
G. elegans
Binomial name
Gelsemium elegans
(Gardner & Chapm.) Benth.

Gelsemium elegans, commonly known as heartbreak grass, is a poisonous plant of the family Gelsemiaceae found in China and other Asian countries. It contains toxic alkaloids such as gelsemine, gelsenicine, gelsevirine, koumine and 14-Hydroxygelsenicine. [1] [2] [3]

Crumbled leaves of this plant, surreptitiously added to food, were used in the 23rd of December 2011 poisoning of Long Liyuan, a magnate of the Chinese timber industry, and perhaps in the 10th of November 2012 poisoning of Alexander Perepilichny, a Russian financier cooperating with a fraud investigation in London, [4] though the role of the plant in his death has been disputed. [5] [6] This plant is also reputed to be the cause of death for Shennong, the first Yan emperor, who is said to have consumed many plants as part of his study of medicinal herbs. [7]

References

  1. Jin, G. L; Su, Y. P; Liu, M; Xu, Y; Yang, J; Liao, K. J; Yu, C. X (2014). "Medicinal plants of the genus Gelsemium (Gelsemiaceae, Gentianales)—A review of their phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and traditional use". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 152 (1): 33–52. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.01.003. PMID   24434844.
  2. Rujjanawate, C; Kanjanapothi, D; Panthong, A (2003). "Pharmacological effect and toxicity of alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans Benth". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 89 (1): 91–95. doi:10.1016/s0378-8741(03)00267-8. PMID   14522437.
  3. Ligaya Mishan (31 October 2018). "What if the Powerful (and Paranoid) Started Using Official Tasters Again?". New York Times Style Magazine.
  4. "Alexander Perepilichny: Rare Chinese poison found in stomach of Russian whistleblower". ABC Online . Agence France-Presse. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  5. Holden, Michael (13 March 2017). "Was Russian whistleblower murdered in UK with poisoned soup?". reuters.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  6. Gibson, David J. (2022). Planting clues: how plants solve crimes. Newyork: OUP. ISBN   978-0-19-886860-6.