断肠草是葫蔓藤科植物葫蔓藤，一年生的藤本植物。
其主要的毒性物质是葫蔓藤碱。民说，吃下后肠子会变黑粘连，人会腹痛不止而死。
马钱科胡蔓藤属植物胡蔓藤， 一味草药，有毒，以根、叶及全草入药。
本品含多种极毒的钩吻碱，误食能致命。中毒后引起晕眩，咽、腹剧痛，口吐白沫，
瞳孔散大，下颚脱落，肌肉无力，心脏及呼吸衰竭而死亡。
Gelsemium elegans Benth (G. elegans)
Gelsemium is a Latinized form of the Italian word for jasmine, gelsomino.
G. elegans is also nicknamed "heartbreak grass".
Four major alkaloids (gelsemine, koumine, gelsevirine, and gelsenicine)
have been isolated from G. elegans.
Recently, interest has arisen to investigate the pharmaceutical potential of
G. elegans alkaloids
to treat anxiety and depression.
【2013-10】
