Gelsemium sempervirens source of ergot alkaloids???

[Limpet_Chicken]

I was reading up on some stuff, and this caught my eye.

http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/medicinal/gels.html

This claims the 'yellow jessamine', Gelsemium sempervirens, the source of the glycine agonist gelsemine, and the convulsant gelseminine.

That link claims ergot alkaloids though, now that woulkd be really interesting, as to my knowledge (and of late I have read enough of a stack of papers on ergot biochemistry to press a suspected witch slowly to death with, should the need arise) the ergoloids have never been found in higher plants outside members of the Convolvulacea, and in grasses infested with Epichloe endophyte fungi such as sleepy grass (Stipa species)

 

[Nexus298]

Looks to me that its related to Trachelospermum jasminoides both being Jasmines and Vines and all. Looks more like an Ibogaine like alkaloid than ergot. correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Limpet_Chicken]

It isn't a true jasmine, the name 'jessamine' is trouble IMO, some of the jasmines contain ibogaine-ish stuff, or ibogaine itself IIRC, but ergot alkaloids?

Confusion between Gelsemium species and jasmine, if used medicinally is likely, in the case of Gelsemium being substituted in error for jasmines, to kill the poor bugger getting the treatment, its pretty toxic, paralysing agent that works in precisely the opposite manner to strychnine.

Apparently quite excellent for treating certain fevers though, and as a muscle relaxant.

I am currently doing a project of sorts involving ergot alkaloid biosynthetic pathways, mutagenesis studies etc, and anything at all involving other organisms producing ergot peptidic alkaloids would make fascinating reading, I would be genuinely shocked and astounded if ergot alkaloids turned up outside of ascomycete fungi, endophyte parasitized grasses or the Convolvulace (which again quite probably bear such a productive endophyte)

 

[MurphyClox]

I heavily doubt the presence of any kind of ergot(-like) alkaloid in Gelsemium sempervirens. No source at hand right now, but I will verify this in the literature. As justification I'd say that if there would be anything alike, we should have seen this mentioned more frequently in diverse forums, books, etc. Not the most clever argumentation, I know


Peace! - Murphy


P.S.: Just checked one of the best references in this respect: Rätsch' "Encyclopedia". It's said that the plant (mainly the roots) contain indole-based alkaloids. Biological effects are described as complete paralysis with concomitant maintaining consciousness. That not just the root of the plant contains alkaloids is demonstrated by the fact that honey coming from this plant is toxic, too. A definite alkaloid described for Gelsimium is scopoletine, which was suggested to be a cognition-enhancer.

 

[Limpet_Chicken]

The main alkaloid is gelsemine, a glycine receptor agonist, and gelseminine, an antagonist I believe, which would be why gelsemium extract sometimes causes siezures in animals, although never does in humans.

 

[stormyweathers]

A definite alkaloid described for Gelsimium is scopoletine, which was suggested to be a cognition-enhancer.

I don't mean to be nit-picky, but thats not an alkaloid

 

[MurphyClox]

Uh yeah, right you are, of course. It's a coumarine.