Picrotoxin
(Redirected from Coques du levant)
Picrotoxin, also known as cocculin, is a poisonous crystalline plant compound. It was first isolated by the French chemists Pierre François Guillaume Boullay (1777–1869) and Joseph Bienaimé Caventou (1795–1877) in 1812. The name "picrotoxin" is derived from the Greek words "picros" (bitter) and "toxicon" (poison).
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The term "picrotoxin" is a compound of two Greek words: "picros", meaning bitter, and "toxicon", meaning poison. This name was given due to the bitter taste and toxic properties of the compound.
Chemical Structure[edit | edit source]
Picrotoxin is a complex of two similar chemical compounds: picrotoxinin and picrotin. Picrotoxinin is the most toxic and active component. The chemical formula of picrotoxinin is C15H16O6, and for picrotin it is C15H18O7.
Source[edit | edit source]
Picrotoxin is obtained from the fruit of the plant Anamirta cocculus, commonly known as the Cocculus indicus or fish berry. This plant is native to India and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Pharmacology[edit | edit source]
Picrotoxin acts as a non-competitive antagonist at GABA_A receptor, a type of ionotropic receptor. It binds to the chloride ion channel pore of this receptor and blocks the action of GABA, a neurotransmitter that normally induces a calming effect in the brain. This blocking action leads to an increase in the excitability of the central nervous system.
Medical Use[edit | edit source]
Picrotoxin is used in medicine as a central nervous system stimulant. It is also used as an antidote in barbiturate and benzodiazepine poisoning to counteract the excessive inhibitory effect of these drugs on the central nervous system.
Toxicity[edit | edit source]
Picrotoxin is a powerful poison. Ingestion can lead to symptoms such as convulsions, difficulty in breathing, and death due to respiratory failure. The lethal dose for humans is not known, but in mice, the LD50 is around 15 mg/kg.
Related Terms[edit | edit source]
Picrotoxin Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD