PubMed-compiled information sheet
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Compiled from 29 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Convallaria majalis, known as lily of the valley, is a medicinal plant containing potent cardiac glycosides used historically for heart failure and edema [PMID:30725648].
Background
Convallaria majalis is an herbaceous perennial plant found in the northern hemisphere, valued for both ornamental and pharmaceutical purposes [PMID:32193770].
Traditional uses
It has been used in traditional Chinese medicinal sciences for its anti-HIV properties [PMID:38047360] and has been used for centuries to treat heart failure and edema, historically termed 'dropsy' [PMID:30725648].
Active compounds
The plant contains cardioactive steroids (CAS) also known as cardiac glycosides [PMID:30725648], specifically convallatoxin [PMID:34469053], convalloside [PMID:17342590], and various steroidal glycosides [PMID:39014276, PMID:29112119]. It also contains the toxic non-proteinogenic amino acid L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (L-AZC) [PMID:23780584] and progesterone [PMID:7405359].
Mechanism of action
Cardiac glycosides in the plant exhibit cardiotonic activity [PMID:27748195] and act against cardiac myocyte ion channels or other cardiac receptor targets [PMID:37222714]. Convallatoxin has been shown to induce the expression of tissue factor (TF) in endothelial cells, which may lead to a hypercoagulable state [PMID:34469053].
Clinical evidence
Evidence CHeart Failure and Edema
Historically used to treat heart failure and edema [PMID:30725648].
Evidence CHIV
Used in traditional Chinese medicinal sciences for anti-HIV properties [PMID:38047360].
Evidence DCancer
Certain steroidal glycosides from C. majalis exhibited cytotoxic activity against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia, A549 human lung adenocarcinoma, and human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro [PMID:29112119, PMID:17268112].
Safety & adverse effects
The plant is toxic; all parts including petals, stamen, leaves, and pollen are toxic [PMID:21147474]. Ingestion can cause food poisoning in humans and companion animals [PMID:34469053]. In cats, it elicits toxic effects via cardiac glycosides [PMID:21147474], and in dogs, it has been associated with cardiac shock and death [PMID:2777690].
Drug interactions
Convallatoxin is a substrate for P-glycoprotein (P-gp), suggesting potential for drug-drug interactions at the transporter level [PMID:25264938].
Evidence summary
The evidence consists primarily of phytochemical analyses, in vitro studies, and veterinary case reports. There is a lack of high-level clinical trial data (RCTs or meta-analyses) regarding human therapeutic use.
PubMed sources
- 1.PMID: 21147474 (2010) — Lily toxicity in the cat. · Topics in companion animal medicine
- 2.PMID: 30725648 (2026) — Convallaria Majalis. · The Southern medical record
- 3.PMID: 35478853 (2022) — The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Convallaria majalis L. · Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources
- 4.PMID: 17342590 (1985) — Studies on the Turnover of Cardenolides in Convallaria majalis. · Planta medica
- 5.PMID: 38047360 (2023) — The Importance of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Intervention and Treatment of HIV while Considering its Safety and Efficacy. · Current HIV research
- 6.