Gelsemium
Scientific Name(s): Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) Ait.
Common Name(s): Carolina jasmine, Carolina jessamine, Evening trumpet flower, Gelsemium, Woodbine, Yellow jasmine, Yellow jessamine
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 22, 2023.
Clinical Overview
Use
Gelsemium has traditionally been used for its analgesic effects and for the treatment of respiratory conditions. Studies (primarily animal and in vitro) have evaluated the analgesic and anxiolytic effects of gelsemium. However, no clinical trial data support use of gelsemium for any indication; use is not advised due to known toxicity of the plant parts.
Dosing
Current use of gelsemium is primarily homeopathic. However, clinical trials are lacking to provide gelsemium dosing recommendations; use of gelsemium for any indication is not recommended due to toxicity concerns.
Contraindications
Gelsemium is highly toxic; ultralow doses have been evaluated. Gelsemium is rarely used because of toxicity concerns.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Although gelsemium has traditionally been used as a homeopathic treatment around labor and delivery, use should be avoided in pregnancy and lactation due to the potential for toxicity.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Toxic symptoms associated with gelsemium include sweating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, dilated pupils, paralysis, blurry vision, difficulty breathing, seizures, coma, and death.
Toxicology
All parts of gelsemium are toxic and can cause death when ingested.
Scientific Family
- Loganiaceae
Botany
The Gelsemium genus includes 5 species, the most popular of which are G. sempervirens, Gelsemium elegans, and Gelsemium rankinii. G. sempervirens is an evergreen woody vine that grows up to 6 m in height and is native to southern regions of the United States from Virginia to Florida. It produces small clusters of sweetly scented, trumpet-shaped yellow flowers that are 3.8 cm long. The glossy evergreen leaves are opposite, entire, and glabrous; leaf shape is variable, and the foliage bronzes in winter. Gelsemium (Carolina jessamine) is the state flower of South Carolina. Bignonia sempervirens L. is a synonym of G. sempervirens. G. sempervirens, commonly known as yellow jasmine, is not related to and should not be confused with true jasmines (Jasminum spp. [eg, Jasminum grandiflorum L.]).Gelsemium 2019, Jin 2014, USDA 2019, Zhang 2015
History
Since the 19th century, gelsemium has been used in homeopathic remedies for treatment of migraines, dysmenorrhea, facial neuralgia, rheumatism, influenza, fever, uterine pain, nausea, asthma, and whooping cough. Gelsemium has also been used for its antianxiety effects. Its roots were historically used as a blood purifier and healing salve.Jin 2014
Chemistry
The major active alkaloids of gelsemium are gelsemine, koumine, gelsenicine, and gelsevirine.Jin 2014 Other compounds found in the plant include scopoletin (also called gelsemic acid), volatile oil (0.5%), fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids), and tannins.Leung 1980 Steroids have also been derived from gelsemium.Jin 2014
Uses and Pharmacology
Analgesic effects
Animal and in vitro data
Gelsemium and its principal alkaloid gelsemine have been reported to exert central stimulant and analgesic effects able to potentiate the effects of aspirin and phenacetin.Leung 1980 Some analgesic effects may result from gelsemine's ability to modulate glycine receptors.Lara 2016 In a murine model, antiallodynia effects produced through glycine receptors were noted with gelsemine.Shoaib 2019 In a paclitaxel-induced neuropathy rat model, treatment with G. sempervirens prevented or decreased cold allodynia and mechanical allodynia/hyperalgesia associated with paclitaxel. The improvement was noted 1 week after administration, with the beneficial effects increasing after 2 weeks.Vitet 2018
Anxiolytic effects
Some anxiolytic effects may result from gelsemine's ability to modulate glycine receptors.Lara 2016
Animal data
In a murine model, intraperitoneal administration of varying G. sempervirens doses for 9 days was associated with anxiolytic effects, based on an increase in the percentage of time spent in a light compartment (as opposed to dark) when the light-dark test was administered; this effect was comparable to that observed with the standard anxiolytic drug buspirone. However, unlike buspirone, G. sempervirens did not appear to be associated with sedative effects.Magnani 2010 Similar results were noted in other, similarly designed animal studies of gelsemium, with one study demonstrating anxiolytic effects with a methanolic extract of G. sempervirens.Dutt 2010, Meyer 2013, Zhang 2013
Clinical data
In a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 180 healthy volunteers randomized to receive gelsemium 5CH, 15CH, or placebo, gelsemium did not prevent anticipatory anxiety.Paris 2012
Cognitive impairment
Animal data
In a murine model of dementia, a tincture of gelsemium improved cognition through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and beta-secretase, as well as through antioxidant effects.Palit 2015
Dosing
Current use of gelsemium is primarily homeopathic. However, clinical trials are lacking to provide gelsemium dosing recommendations; use of gelsemium for any indication is not recommended due to toxicity concerns.
Pregnancy / Lactation
Although gelsemium has traditionally been used as a homeopathic treatment around labor and delivery, use should be avoided in pregnancy and lactation due to the potential for toxicity.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Symptoms of gelsemium toxicity include sweating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, dilated pupils, paralysis, blurry vision, difficulty breathing, seizures, and coma. The nervous system is overly depressed in cases of severe poisoning, leading to death.Jin 2014, Zhang 2015
Toxicology
All parts of the gelsemium plant contain highly toxic alkaloids that can cause paralysis and death, and therefore should not be ingested. Ingestion of as little as 4 mL of a fluid extract has been reported to be fatal. Toxic symptoms include sweating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, dilated pupils, paralysis, blurry vision, difficulty breathing, seizures, and coma. The nervous system is overly depressed in cases of severe poisoning, leading to death.Jin 2014, Zhang 2015 Gelsemicine is more toxic than gelsemine.Evans 1989
Toxicity has been reported in animals that have grazed on gelsemium, and bees that pollinate the plant have been poisoned. Honey derived from the plant nectar has been reported to be toxic.Dobelis 1986 In animal studies, toxicity has manifested as reductions in motor activity and respiratory rate and the presence of tremors and clonic seizures, with death resulting from asphyxia. The median lethal dose (LD50) for gelsemicine, the most toxic alkaloid of G. sempervirens, has been reported to be 0.2 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally in rats.Jin 2014, Zhang 2015
Index Terms
- Bignonia sempervirens L.
References
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