Strychnine

Md : Obydulla Al Mamun
Id:131-29-500
9th(B)
Department Of Pharmacy
Daffodil International University
[email protected]

1.  


!
"# #" $#%&#
!!'()# *!" Md : Obydulla Al Mamun
Id:131-29-500
9th(B)
Department Of Pharmacy
Daffodil International University
[email protected]

2. +!# Strychnine
 Strychnine is a highly toxic colorless,
bitter crystalline alkaloid used as
a pesticide, particularly for killing
small vertebrates such
as birds and rodents .
Not used anymore because rats learn
to avoid the bitter taste.

3. Types of Strychnine
Alkaloid
Stimulant of the central nervous system.

4. Natural Source
Found in strychnos
nux-vomica.
Strychnine (1.2 % ),
brucine (1.6 %)
Strychnos ignatia –
more strychnine

5. Mechanism of Action
An antagonist of glycine, a major inhibitory
neurotransmitter in the mammalian nervous system

6. Mechanism of Action

7. Pharmacological effect
Increased reflex action
Increased rate of respiration
Enlargement of the capacity of the lungs
Increased force, rate, and volume of the
pulse
Raised arterial pressure
Increased sharpness to sight, hearing, and
smell, and general irritation .

8. Pharmaceutical Applications
Appetite stimulant and general tonic in small
doses
Specific medicine nux vomica and tinctura
nucis vomicae
Pesticide/ vermin killer
Used in synthetic chemistry as optically-
active bases to achieve optical resolution of
racemic acids (along with brucine)

9. Side Effects
Extremely poisonous (100
mg is fatal )
Suffocation
Tremors
Convulsions
Eariness
Death usually taking
place after three or four
convulsions .
Death may occur during
the interval from
exhaustion, or paralytic
asphyxia, or during the
grip upon the respiratory
muscles and the heart
from cramp asphyxia .

10. Side Effects

11. Strychnine Poisoning
The first effect of Strychnine poisoning is
stiffness of the face and neck muscle. In the
convulsion, the body is arched in hyperextension
so that the crown of the head and the heel can
touch the ground.
Respiration ceases. Normally, death occurs after
2
nd
to 5
th
full convulsion.

12. Treatment Of Poisoning
The main targets of the treatment of strychnine poisoning
are-
Prevention of convulsion and Support of respiration.
Diazepam may be used as it is the most useful agent for
this purpose because it antagonizes convulsion without
causing respiratory depression.
Adequate respiratory ventilation is necessary for support
of respiration