picrotoxin

[ pik-ruh-tok-sin ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. a white, crystalline, bitter, poisonous, central nervous system stimulant, C 3 0 H 3 4 O 1 3 , obtained from the seeds of Anamirta cocculus: used chiefly in the treatment of barbiturate poisoning.

picrotoxin

/ ˌpɪkrəˈtɒksɪn /

noun

1. a bitter poisonous crystalline compound formerly used as an antidote for barbiturate poisoning. Formula: C 30 H 34 O 13

Other Words From

• picro·toxic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of picrotoxin¹

1865–70; < Greek pikr ( ós ) bitter + -o- + toxin

Example Sentences

Picrotoxinin exists in picrotoxin in the proportion of 32 to 100, and may be separated by boiling in benzine.

From Project Gutenberg

It contains a bitter poisonous principle, picrotoxin, used in small doses to control the night sweats of phthisis.

From Project Gutenberg

For the reaction to succeed, the picrotoxin should be tolerably pure.

From Project Gutenberg

On evaporation of the solvent the crude picrotoxin can be crystallised out of water, and its properties examined.

From Project Gutenberg

Concentrated aqueous solutions of alkalies and ammonia decompose picrotoxin fully on warming.

From Project Gutenberg