brucine

American  

[broo-seen, -sin] / ˈbru sin, -sɪn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, bitter, slightly water-soluble, very poisonous alkaloid, C 23 H 26 N 2 O 4 , obtained from the nux vomica tree Strychnos nux-vomica, and from other species of the same genus, resembling but not as powerful as strychnine in its pharmacological action: used chiefly in the denaturation of alcohol.

---

brucine British  

/ -sin, ˈbruːsiːn /

noun

1. bitter poisonous alkaloid resembling strychnine and obtained from the tree Strychnos nuxvomica : used mainly in the denaturation of alcohol. Formula: C 23 H 26 N 2 O 4

---

Etymology

Origin of brucine

1815–25; named after J. Bruce (1730–94), Scottish explorer; -ine ²

Example Sentences

"Ah," he exclaimed, "it is no longer brucine that is used; let me see what it is!"

From The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas père, Alexandre

It gives a red colour with brucine, turns the green sulphate of iron black, and with hydrochloric acid dissolves gold.

From Aids to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Robertson, W. G. Aitchison (William George Aitchison )

Well," replied Monte Cristo "suppose, then, that this poison was brucine, and you were to take a milligramme the first day, two milligrammes the second day, and so on.

From The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas père, Alexandre

Strychnine is found in them in the proportion of ½–1½ and brucine ½%–1.4%.

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers

Strychnine and brucine exist in combination with igasuric acid discovered by Ludwig in 1873.

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers