From the Research
Strychnine is naturally found in the seeds of certain plants belonging to the genus Strychnos, particularly Strychnos nux-vomica and Strychnos ignatii. These plants are native to Southeast Asia, particularly India, and parts of Australia.
Key Points
- Strychnine is an alkaloid compound that has historically been used in very small doses as a stimulant in some medications, but is now primarily used as a pesticide, particularly for killing rodents and other small vertebrate pests 1.
- The compound works by blocking inhibitory neurotransmitters in the spinal cord, which leads to severe muscle spasms and can be fatal in higher doses.
- Due to its high toxicity, strychnine is heavily regulated in most countries, and its use in consumer products has been significantly restricted.
- Strychnine can be extracted from the seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica, and the content of strychnine in detoxified seeds is one tenth of unprocessed Strychnos nux-vomica seeds 1.
- The seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica contain several alkaloids, including strychnine, beta-colubrine, pseudostrychnine, and brucine 2.
- Strychnine has been studied for its potential to reduce voluntary ethanol intake in rats, and it has been found to be effective in reducing ethanol intake and increasing water intake 3.