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Family Caryophyllaceae
Baby's breath
Gypsophila paniculata L.
GYP
Yuan zhui shi tou hua

Scientific names Common names
Arrostia paniculata Raf. Baby's breath (Engl.)
Gypsophila effusa Tausch Bachelor's button (Engl.)
Gypsophila hungarica Borbás Gyp (Engl.)
Gypsophila manginii auct. Maiden's breath (Engl.)
Gypsophila paniculata L. Perfoliate baby's breath (Engl.)
Gypsophila parviflora Moench Tall baby's breath (Engl.)
Gypsophila tatarica Gueldenst. Tall gypsophila (Engl.)
Lychnis procera Ledeb.                                   Unresolved White soapwort (Engl.)
Saponaria paniculata (L.) H.Neumayer           Unresolved  
Silene paniculata E.H.L.Krause                       Unresolved  
Gypsophila paniculata L. is an accepted name. The Plant List

Other vernacular names
FRENCH: Gypsophile paniculé, Saponaire blanche.
GERMAN: Rispiges gipskraut, Scheierkraut, Schleierkraut.
JAPANESE: Kogome-nadeshiko.
NETHERLAND: Bruidssluier.
SWEDEN: Brudslöja.

Botany
Gypsophila paniculata is a perennial herb growing to a height of 1.5 meters, Roots are ramified with long thick branches. Stems are stiff, erect, and forking. Leaves are narrowly linear and pale green, reduced to an enlarged and flattened petiole. Flowers are borne on profusely branching panicles, small, white , 2-4 millimeters, with a very faint fragrant smell. Fruit is a capsule, oval or rounded, opening at valves, containing several brown or black kidney- or snail-shaped seeds.

Distribution
- Native to East and Central Asia.
- Recently introduced to the Philippines.
- Cultivated for ornamental use as decorative trimmings in bouquets.

- Considered a noxious weed in some places, almost impossible to eradicate, each plant possibly producing over 13,000 seeds which are easily dispersed by winds. Seeds escape from flower arrangements and are often found downwind from cemeteries. Some florists in Calgary have banned the bud. (5)

Constituents
- Well known for its saponin content.
- G. paniculata has been shown toe synthesize gysopenin saponins, both in undifferentiated callus and multiple shoot culture. (6)
- Gypsogenin () is the main pentacyclic triterpenoidal aglycone of the saponins. Bidesmosidic saponins are saponins substituted on the OH3 and on the COOH 28 by two chains of glycosides, considered among the highest glycosylated. (6)
- Gypsoside () is a saponin containing nine glycosides, appear to be the same "gypsophila saponin" first described by Van der Harr in 1927. (60)
- Study isolated eight known triterpenoid saponins from the roots of G. paniculata, all were isolated from the roots for the first time.

Properties
- Purgative, spermicidal (attributed to triterpenoid saponins).
- Mixture of triterpenoid saponins increase toxicity of anticancer drugs.
- Studies have suggested

Uses

Folkloric
- No reported medicinal use in the Philippines.
- Used as purgative.
- Decoction of roots used as expectorant. (10)
Others
- Washing: Roots used for washing hair and clothes.
- Ornamental: Cultivated for use in flower arrangements.

- Saponin source: Genus is a source of saponins with various commercial applications like the manufacture of photographic film and hemolytic lab reagents. Its detergent property makes it useful for making soap and shampoo.

Studies
Saponins Potentiate Cytotoxic Activity of Saporin-Based Immunotoxic for Human Lymphoma Cell Line:
Study used a protein synthesis inhibition assay to demonstrate the G. paniculata saponins potentiate the cytotoxicity of anti-CD19 and CD38 saporin-based immunotoxins against human lymphoma cell line Daudi. While the study clearly demonstrated the G. paniculata saponins significantly potentiate IT activity, the effect may be only partially immunospecific. Nevertheless, the dramatic improvements that saponins confer on IT activity argue in favor of in vivo experiments in transgenic animal models of human lymphoma to further explore other strategies to improve the immunospecific effect achievable. (7)
• Saponin Extraction / Targeted Toxins and Tumor Therapy: Saponin album (SAP) is a complex mixture of triterpene saponins from G. paniculata. SAP has been shown to drastically enhance the cytotoxicity of a chimeric toxin of N-glycosidase saponin and human epidermal growth factor (Sap-EGF) in cell culture experiments. Study isolated a single saponin by simple chromatographic method. The isolated saponin was shown to enhance the cytotoxicity of Sap-EGF on HER14 cells. (8)
• Report of Occupational Asthma due to Baby's Breath: Study reports on a florist who developed symptoms of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma on exposure of baby's breath. Pin prick skin tests produced an immediate response. The asthmatic response was confirmed by bronchial challenge with immediate fall in FEV1. Immunoblotting demonstrated IgE binding to 13 protein bands. Report concludes the patient developed IgE-mediated sensitivity to multiple allergens in baby's breath and confirms the potential of the plant as a cause of occupational asthma in the floral industry. (11)
• Saponins / Treatment against Two Nematode Vectors of Grapevine Fanleaf Degeneration: Xiphinema index and X. diversicaudatum are nematodes that transmit the grapevine fanleaf virus and Arabis mosaic virus, two agents responsible for the disease that cause the most economic damage to grapevines worldwide. Study evaluated the nematicidal effect of saponins from G. paniculata roots against the two nematodes. Results showed the G. paniculata saponins are an efficient and eco-friendly alternative treatment against the two nematodes that transmit grapevine leaf disease. (12)
• α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity / Triterpenoid Saponins / Caryophyllacosides: Study isolated two triterpenoid saponins, caryophyllacosides A and B from the roots of G. paniculata. Both were found to have potent evaluated α-glucosidase inhibition activity. (14)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Cultivated.

© Godofredo U. Stuart Jr., M.D.

Updated May 2018
January 2017


IMAGE SOURCE: Illustration / Gypsophila paniculata / /Illustration by Otto Wilhelm Thomé / Public Domain / Wikipedia
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Photograph / Gypsophila paniculata 'Bristol Fairy' / © Kenmerken / wit, dubbel / click on image to go to source page / Vasteplant.be
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Photograph / Close-up view of two Gypsophila paniculata fowers / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Gypsophila paniculata L. (Baby's Breath) / Medicinal Plants

(2)
Baby's breath-Common names / Invasive Species Compendium
(3)
Gypsophila / Wikipedia
(4)
Medicinal plants heading for new drugs / Societas Physiologiae Plantarum Scandinavica / 17.09.2012 , Issue IV, 2012
(5)
Baby’s Breath blooms in abundance in Medicine Hat / With files from Jamie Mauracher / News Calcary
(6)
Gypsophila paniculata L. (Baby’s Breath) / Selections from the book: “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants IV”, 1993. / Medicinal Plants
(7)
Abstract 5624: Saponins from Gypsophila paniculata L significantly potentiate the immunospecific cytotoxic activity of anti-CD19 and CD38 saporin-based immunotoxins for a human lymphoma cell line / David J. Flavell, Suzanne Holmes, Emily Gibbs, Hendrik Fuchs, Christopher Bachran, Matthias F. Melzig, Diana Bachran and Sopsamorn U. Flavell / Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5624. / DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM10-5624
(8)
A simple method for isolation of Gypsophila saponins for the combined application of targeted toxins and saponins in tumor therapy. / Weng A, Bachran D, Görick C, Bachran C, Fuchs H, Melzig MF. / Planta Med. 2009 Oct;75(13):1421-2. / doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1185706. Epub 2009 May 18.
(9)
Triterpenoid Saponins from the Roots of Gypsophila paniculata / YAO Shun,MA Li,LUO Jian-Guang,WANG Jun-Song,KONG Ling-Yi / Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines, 2010-01
(10)
MEDICINAL PLANTS / Éva Németh / CULTIVATED PLANTS, PRIMARILY AS FOOD SOURCES – Vol. II – Medicinal Plants
(11)
Allergens involved in occupational asthma caused by baby's breath (Gypsophilapaniculata) / David C. Schroeckenstein, MD, Susan Meier-Davis, DVM, John W. Yunginger, MD, and Robert K. Bush, MD / J Allergy Clin. Immunology, August 1990
(12)
Gypsophila paniculata root saponins as an environmentally safe treatment against two nematodes, natural vectors of grapevine fanleaf degeneration. / Pensec, F.; Marmonier, A.; Marchal, A.; Gersch, S.; Nassr, N.; Chong, J.; Henry, M.; Demangeat, G.; Bertsch, C. / Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 2013, Vol 19 No 3, pp.439-445
(13)
Global Gypsophila Paniculata Industry Report 2015 / Market Research Store
(14)
Two new triterpenoid saponins from the roots of Gypsophila paniculata with potent α-glucosidase inhibition activity / Shun, Y., Jian-Guang, L., Li, M., Ling-Yi, K. / Chinese J. Nat. Med. 9, 401-406, 2011

It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page.

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