Menispermum

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Menispermum
Menispermum canadense fruit-seed.jpg
Fruit and seed of Menispermum canadense
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Menispermaceae
Genus: Menispermum
L.
Species

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Menispermum (moonseed) is a small genus of deciduous climbing woody vines in the moonseed family (Menispermaceae). Plants in this genus have small dioecious flowers, and clusters of small grape-like drupes. [1] The name, moonseed, comes from the shape of the seed, which resembles a crescent moon. The word Menispermum is derived from the Greek words μήν (mēn), meaning ( crescent ) moon, and σπέρμα (sperma) meaning seed. The common name moonseed is also applied to some other species in the related genus Cocculus .

Contents

Species

There are only two recognised species in the genus Menispermum [2] [3] these being :

Formerly placed here

Toxicity

All parts of these plants are known to be poisonous, containing dauricine and related isoquinoline alkaloids, and children have died from eating the fruits. Dauricine inhibits cardiac K+ channels thus causing arrhythmia. Other symptoms caused by consumption of the grape-like fruits include excitation of the CNS, leading to seizures and neuromuscular arrest. [5] [6] First aid in cases of Menispermum poisoning involves the induction of vomiting, followed by the administration of medicinal charcoal and sodium sulphate. Clinical therapy : gastric lavage ( possibly with 0.1% potassium permanganate ) instillation of medicinal charcoal and sodium sulphate; electrolyte substitution, control of acidosis with sodium bicarbonate ( pH of urine 7.5 ). In case of spasms, intravenous administration of diazepam. Provision of intubation and oxygen respiration in case of respiratory arrest or paralysis. Checking of diuresis and kidney function. [5]

Medicinal Use

Menispermum dauricum has been used to treat skin disorders, rheumatism, [7] and cervical cancer. [8]

Menispermum canadense has been used in herbal medicine as a tonic, laxative, dermatological aid, venereal aid, and diuretic. [9] Yellow Medicine County in Minnesota is named after one of this plant's common names.

Plants of this species are sometimes grown as ornamentals in gardens. Gardeners can propagate this plant from the division of runners or by seed.

Related Research Articles

<i>Tanacetum</i> Genus of flowering plants

Tanacetum is a genus of about 160 species of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae, native to many regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are known commonly as tansies. The name tansy can refer specifically to Tanacetum vulgare, which may be called the common tansy or garden tansy for clarity.

<i>Campanula</i> Genus of flowering plants in the bellflower family Campanulaceae

Campanula is one of several genera of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae commonly known as bellflowers. They take both their common and scientific names from the bell-shaped flowers — campanula is Latin for "little bell".

<i>Myrica</i> Genus of flowering plants

Myrica is a genus of about 35–50 species of small trees and shrubs in the family Myricaceae, order Fagales. The genus has a wide distribution, including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America, and missing only from Australia. Some botanists split the genus into two genera on the basis of the catkin and fruit structure, restricting Myrica to a few species, and treating the others in Morella.

<i>Cissus</i> Genus of grapevines

Cissus is a genus of approximately 350 species of lianas in the grape family (Vitaceae). They have a cosmopolitan distribution, though the majority are to be found in the tropics.

Spartium Species of broom native to the Mediterranean

Spartium junceum is the sole species in the genus Spartium. Known as the Spanish broom, rush broom or weaver's broom, it is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is closely related to the other brooms. There are many binomials in Spartium that are of dubious validity.

Menispermaceae Family of flowering plants

Menispermaceae is a family of flowering plants. The alkaloid tubocurarine, a neuromuscular blocker and the active ingredient in the 'tube curare' form of the dart poison curare, is derived from the South American liana Chondrodendron tomentosum. Several other South American genera belonging to the family have been used to prepare the 'pot' and calabash' forms of curare. The family contains 68 genera with some 440 species, which are distributed throughout low-lying tropical areas with some species present in temperate and arid regions.

<i>Cocculus</i> Genus of flowering plants

Cocculus is a genus of 11 species of woody vines and shrubs, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of North America, Asia and Africa. The common name moonseed is also used for the closely related genus Menispermum. The related Indian berry is known as "Cocculus Indicus" in pharmacology.

<i>Menispermum canadense</i> Species of plant

Menispermum canadense, the Canadian moonseed, common moonseed, or yellow parilla, is a flowering plant in the family Menispermaceae, native to eastern North America, from southern Canada south to northern Florida, and from the Atlantic coast west to Manitoba and Texas. It occurs in thickets, moist woods, and the banks of streams.

<i>Anamirta cocculus</i> Climbing plant

Anamirta cocculus is a Southeast Asian and Indian climbing plant. Its fruit is the source of picrotoxin, a poisonous compound with stimulant properties.

<i>Hydrocotyle</i> Genus of aquatic plants

Hydrocotyle, sometimes called water pennywort, Indian pennywort, dollar weed, marsh penny, thick-leaved pennywort and even white rot is a genus of prostrate, perennial aquatic or semi-aquatic plants formerly classified in the family Apiaceae, now in the family Araliaceae.

<i>Hieracium umbellatum</i> Species of flowering plant

Hieracium umbellatum, the Canadian hawkweed, Canada hawkweed, narrowleaf hawkweed, or northern hawkweed, is a flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae.

<i>Tephrosia</i> Genus of plants

Tephrosia is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is widespread in both the Eastern and Western Hemisphere, where it is found in tropical and warm-temperate regions.

<i>Aspalathus</i> Genus of legumes

Aspalathus is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. The yellow flowers and spiny habit of some species have suggested a resemblance to Ulex europaeus, the thorny "English gorse" Accordingly, "Cape Gorse" has been proposed as a common name although the resemblance is largely superficial; for instance, gorse is thorny, whereas Aspalathus species are variously spiny or unarmed. The genus belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. There are over 270 species, mainly endemic to southwestern fynbos regions in South Africa, with over fifty occurring on the Cape Peninsula alone. The species Aspalathus linearis is commercially important, being farmed as the source of Rooibos tea.

References

  1. Flora of North America
  2. http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Menispermum Retrieved 1.47 on 15/11/18
  3. "Flora of China" (PDF). Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  4. 1 2 "GRIN Species Records of Menispermum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  5. 1 2 Wink, Michael and Van Wyk, Ben-Erik Mind-Altering and Poisonous Plants of the World : A Scientifically Accurate Guide to 1,200 Toxic and Intoxicating Plants pub. Timber Press 2008 ISBN   978-0-88192-952-2
  6. FDA Poisonous Plant Database Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  7. PIW Database [ permanent dead link ]
  8. Dr. Duke's Ethnobotanical Database on USDA GRIN Taxonomy: Asian Moonseed
  9. Dr. Duke's Database of USDA GRIN Taxonomy: Canadian Moonseed
Menispermum canadense from Britton & Brown 1913 Menispermum canadense BB-1913.png
Menispermum canadense from Britton & Brown 1913