13 Facts About Strychnine

Strychnine is a highly toxic, colorless, bitter, crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents.

Strychnine, when inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the eyes or mouth, causes poisoning which results in muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia.

Strychnine is a terpene indole alkaloid belonging to the Strychnos family of Corynanthe alkaloids, and it is derived from tryptamine and secologanin.

Strychnine is then formed by a facile addition of the amine with the carboxylic acid or its activated CoA thioester, followed by ring-closure via displacement of an activated alcohol.

Strychnine is a neurotoxin which acts as an antagonist of glycine and acetylcholine receptors.

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Strychnine is an antagonist of glycine; it binds noncovalently to the same receptor, preventing the inhibitory effects of glycine on the postsynaptic neuron.

Strychnine produces some of the most dramatic and painful symptoms of any known toxic reaction, strychnine poisoning is often portrayed in literature and film including authors Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle.

Strychnine is rapidly metabolized by the liver microsomal enzyme system requiring NADPH and O2.

Strychnine competes with the inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine resulting in an excitatory state.

Strychnine was the first alkaloid to be identified in plants of the genus Strychnos, family Loganiaceae.

Strychnine was first discovered by French chemists Joseph Bienaime Caventou and Pierre-Joseph Pelletier in 1818 in the Saint-Ignatius' bean.

Strychnine has been used as a plot device in the author Agatha Christie's murder mysteries.

Strychnine was popularly used as an athletic performance enhancer and recreational stimulant in the late 19th century and early 20th century, due to its convulsant effects.