Dong Qu,Dong-Fang Qiao,Xun-Cai Chen,Chun-Qiong Feng,Qi-Zhi Luo,Xiao-Hui Tan
We present a case of fatal poisoning from accidental ingestion of Gelsemium elegans ( G. elegans ), a rarely toxic plant. A 41-year-old man was found dead, at his home, 6 h after drinking homemade herbal liqueur during lunch. Autopsy and routine toxicological analyses identified neither significant pathological findings nor routine poisons. However, a local botanist revealed that the homemade herbal liqueur contained G. elegans , a poisonous plant specific to Asia. To ascertain whether the decedent had ingested G. elegans , we performed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and found two alkaloids (gelsemine and koumine) in his blood, gastric contents, as well as the suspected herbal liqueur. The cause of death was therefore confirmed to be G. elegans poisoning. Case reports of fatal poisoning due to ingestion of G. elegans are quite rare in English. Therefore, the present case broadens the scope on the possibility of death due to ingestion of G. elegans for forensic pathologists and toxicologists.
Two novel monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs), gelsechizines A-B ( 1 – 2 ), along with four known ones ( 3 – 6 ) were isolated from the fruits of Gelsemium elegans . Compound 1 features a new carbon skeleton with two additional carbon atoms forming a 4-methylpyridine unit. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by NMR, MS, X-ray diffraction and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds 1 – 3 showed significant anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and in vitro , which may be related to the inhibition of the trecruitment of neutrophils and macrophages as well as the secretion of TNF- α and IL-6. Preliminary structure–activity relationship analysis revealed that the β - N -acrylate moiety plays an important role in the anti-inflammatory effect.
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）