picrotoxin

picrotoxin
A very bitter neutral principle derived from the fruit of Anamirta cocculus (family Menispermaceae); a central nervous system stimulant, used as an antidote for poisoning by barbiturates and certain other CNS-depressant drugs; a convulsant and GABA antagonist used extensively in experimental procedures studying seizure mechanisms. SYN: cocculin. [G. pikros, bitter, + toxicon, poison]

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pic·ro·tox·in .pik-rō-'täk-sən n a poisonous bitter crystalline principle C30H34O13 found esp. in cocculus that is a compound of picrotoxinin and picrotin and is a stimulant and convulsant drug administered intravenously as an antidote for poisoning by overdoses of barbiturates

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pic·ro·tox·in (pikґro-tok″sin) an active principle obtained from the seed (cocculus indicus) of Anamirta cocculus; it stimulates all portions of the central nervous system by blocking presynaptic inhibition of neural impulses and can cause convulsions. It has been used medicinally as an antidote in the treatment of poisoning by central nervous system depressant drugs, especially the barbiturates, administered intravenously.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Picrotoxin — Picrotoxin: picrotoxinin (left) and picrotin (right) Picrotoxin …   Wikipedia

  • Picrotoxin — Pic ro*tox in, n. [Gr. ? bitter + toxic + in.] (Chem.) A bitter white crystalline substance found in the cocculus indicus. It is a peculiar poisonous neurotic and intoxicant, and consists of a mixture of several neutral substances. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • picrotoxin — [pik΄rō täk′sin] n. [ PICRO + TOXIN] a white, bitter, poisonous, crystalline compound, C30H34O13, resembling strychnine in its properties: used as a stimulant in cases of barbiturate poisoning …   English World dictionary

  • Picrotoxin — Strukturformel Picrotin (oben), Picrotoxinin (unten) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • picrotoxin — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1815 a poisonous bitter crystalline stimulant and convulsive substance C30H34O13 obtained from the berry of a southeast Asian vine (Anamirta cocculus) and used intravenously as an antidote …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • picrotoxin — picrotoxic, adj. /pik reuh tok sin/, n. Pharm. a white, crystalline, bitter, poisonous, central nervous system stimulant, C30H34O13, obtained from the seeds of Anamirta cocculus: used chiefly in the treatment of barbiturate poisoning. [1865 70; …   Universalium

  • picrotoxin — noun A poisonous material, extracted from the seeds of the Anamirta cocculus, used as a stimulant; it is a complex of two alkaloids picrotoxinin and picrotin Syn: cocculin …   Wiktionary

  • picrotoxin — n. type of poison found in plant seeds …   English contemporary dictionary

  • picrotoxin — pic·ro·tox·in …   English syllables

  • picrotoxin — pic•ro•tox•in [[t]ˌpɪk rəˈtɒk sɪn[/t]] n. pha a poisonous stimulant, C30H34O13, obtained from the seeds of Anamirta cocculus, used to treat barbiturate poisoning • Etymology: 1865–70; < Gk pikr(ós) bitter + o +toxin …   From formal English to slang

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