pilocarpine

American  

[pahy-luh-kahr-peen, -pin, pil-uh-] / ˌpaɪ ləˈkɑr pin, -pɪn, ˌpɪl ə- /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. an oil or crystalline alkaloid, C 1 1 H 1 6 N 2 O 2 , obtained from jaborandi, and used chiefly to produce sweating, promote the flow of saliva, contract the pupil of the eye, and for glaucoma.

---

pilocarpine British  

/ ˌpaɪləʊˈkɑːpaɪn, -pɪn, ˌpaɪləʊˈkɑːpɪn /

noun

1. an alkaloid extracted from the leaves of the jaborandi tree, formerly used to induce sweating. Formula: C 11 H 16 N 2 O 2

---

Etymology

Origin of pilocarpine

1870–75; < New Latin Pilocarp ( us ) name of the genus of shrubs which includes jaborandi (< Greek pîlo ( s ) felt, wool or hair made into felt + -o- -o- + -karpos -carp ) + -ine ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pilocarpine

The drops, meant to be used once a day, contain a drug called pilocarpine that contracts the pupil to create the pinhole effect, limiting extraneous light rays from entering the eye with their extraneous information.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 17, 2022

Several of the drops, including Vuity, shrink pupils with the same active ingredient: a drug called pilocarpine with a long history as a treatment for glaucoma.

From Scientific American ● Feb. 15, 2022

Immediately after the skin had been exposed to the pilocarpine, the scientists swapped the patches for small spiral-shape discs designed to absorb the resulting perspiration.

From New York Times ● Jul. 26, 2017

Along with constricting the pupil through the smooth muscle of the iris, pilocarpine will also cause the ciliary muscle to contract.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

In obscure cases, quinia, salophen, lithia salts, calcium chloride, belladonna, nux vomica, arsenic, pilocarpine, and general galvanization may be variously tried.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Stelwagon, Henry Weightman