BACKGROUND: Gelsemium elegans (G. elegans) is a flowering plant of the Loganiaceae family, which had been used in traditional Chinese herb medicine for many years for the treatment of rheumatoid pain, neuropathic pain, spasticity, skin ulcers, anxiety and cancer. Acute toxicity of the plant severely limits the application and development of G. elegans; however, long-term toxicity of exposure to G. elegans has not been illuminated. PURPOSE: This study is a comprehensive observation of the effects of long-term exposure (21 days at 70 mg/kg) to G....