Gelsemium elegans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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 and koumine.[1][2]

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,[3] though the role of the plant in his death has been disputed.[4][5]

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. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
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