Strychnine from Strychnos nux-vomica

Some examples ofplant alkaloids. Coniine is from the leaves and seeds of hemlock and very toxic to motor nerves. Strychnine, from Strychnos nux-vomica, is a central nervous system and respiratory stimulant, also very toxic. Reserpine, from Rauwolfia serpentina roots, is used clinically against hypertension and formerly as a tranquillizer... 

It is a toxic plant and has properties similar to strychnine, which is obtained from Strychnos nux vomica. Once recommended as a remedy for cholera, the plant is used to treat fever and acute emotional and mental afflictions such as hysteria, insomnia, and depression. In toxic doses, it causes muscle spasms, painful convulsions, and even death by asphyxiation (see Chapter 62). 

Strychnine-Akuammicine-Ellipticine Group. 11-Methoxyicajine (110)77 and 15-hydroxystrychnine,78 a new alkaloid, have been isolated from Strychnos nux-vomica seeds, and 11-methoxydiaboline from S. rubiginosa.58 10-Hydroxy-akuammicine (sewarine) occurs in the leaves of Rauwolfia volkensii,60 and 11-methoxyakuammicine in Alstonia odontophora.59... 

These two alkaloids were first isolated from the mother liquors of strychnine manufacture from Strychnos nux vomica seeds (125). That a-colubrine is 3-methoxystrychnine and /3-coIubrine is 2-methoxy-strychnine follows from permanganate oxidation to the corresponding methoxyoxalylanthranilic acids (125) and from chromic acid oxidation of the two colubridines to diketonucidine (CXXVIII) (111). 

Strychnine isolated from Strychnos nux-vomica is a potent toxin affecting the nervous system and muscular system bringing about an extremely painful stop to the functioning of the above systems. Strychnine binds itself to receptor sites in the spinal cord and accommodates glycine. It has interesting pharmacological effects on several neurotransmitter receptors, including some members of the superfamily... 

Strychnine Alkaloid extracted from Strychnos nux-vomica, widely used as rodent poison. Strychnine causes excitation of aU portions of the nervous systan by blocking synaptic inhibition of neural impulses. 

The convulsant alkaloid strychnine from the Indian tree Strychnos nux vomica is highly toxic. Strychnine... 

As reviewed by Ujvary some of the earliest natural product-based pesticides were those for the elimination of vertebrate pests. For example, strychnine (Fig. 19), obtained from seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica, is a rodenticide that is an antagonist to the neurotransmitter glycine and is used against a few mammal species, as well as pest birds and fish. The first generation of anticoagulant rodenticides were based on dicoumarin. 

One of the most well-known, infamous poisons, beloved of murderers and crime writers, is strychnine, which is derived from a tree found in India, Strychnos nux vomica. Strychnine may be found in the crushed seeds... 

Strychnine and brucine in alkaloidal mixtures isolated from seeds of strychnos nux vomica... 

Information on derivatives of the alkaloidal types considered so far is as follows (o) there is good evidence that the biosynthesis of strychnine (51) in Strychnos nux vomica plants follows the terpenoid pathway and it is proved that carbons x and y of (51) are derived from acetate the Wieland-Gumlich aldehyde (52) is not incorporated into strychnine by these plants b) apparicine... 

Strychnine, a neurotoxin, is the chief alkaloid present in nux vomica, which is derived from special species of Strychnos, particularly Strychnos nux vomica and Strychnos ignatia. Strychnine is found chiefly in the seeds of these plants, accompanied usually by brucine. Strychnine poisoning causes muscular stiffness, increased reflex reactions, tremors, involuntary twitches, sudden convulsions, and opisthotonus (see Figure 89). 

Nux Vomica, Quaker buttons bachelor s buttons poison nut dog buttons vomit nut. Dried, ripe seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica L... Loganiaceae. Habit. Southern Asia, Northern Australia. Constit. 1 -1.4% strychnine, about an equal amount of brucine strychnicine, loganin, caffeotan -nic (igasuric) acid, proteins. Nux vomica from Saigon contains t.6-2% strychnine. Caution Extremely poisonous. 

Strychnine and brucine, which occur in the seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica, L. and in the beans of Strychnos ignatii, Berg., are isolated (260) by mixing the powdered seeds with slaked lime and adding sufficient water to make a paste. The paste is dried and extracted with chloroform. The alkaloids are recovered from this chloroform solution by extraction tvith dilute sulfuric acid, followed by precipitation of the bases with ammonia. Extraction of the crude alkaloid mixture with 25% alcohol dissolves the brucine, while the residue contains most of the strychnine. The crude alkaloids are purified by crystallization from alcohol. 

C-Mavacurine has been isolated in 0.1 % yield from the root bark of a sample of Strychnos nux-vomica L. obtained from Indo-China, thus providing a link between American and non-American Strychnos species. The aerial parts of the same sample furnished strychnine, brucine, and vomicine, but no quaternary alkaloids (4). 

Strychnine is an alkaloid derived from the seeds of a tree, Strychnos nux-vomica. At one time strychnine was an ingredient in a variety of over-the-counter tonics and laxatives. Today strychnine is no longer used in any pharmaceuticals. Instead it is used primarily as a rodenticide and is sometimes found as an adulterant in illicit drugs such as cocaine or heroin. 

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