Strychnos is poisonous. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Strychnos is poisonous. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

cultivated and wild plants. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Photos, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
Genus, family, origin, range, chemical composition, economic importance
Botanical description, reference data, useful information, illustrations

Strychnos poisonous, Strychnos toxifera. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Strychnosus

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: Strychnos

Family: Loganiaceae (Loganiaceae)

Origin: Africa, Asia, Australia and America.

Area: South America

Chemical composition: Strychnos venom contains alkaloids such as strychnine and brucine, which are poisonous.

Economic value: Strychnos venom is used in medicine as an analgesic and muscle relaxant, and is also used in poisonous fishing baits. However, due to its high toxicity, it is not recommended for use without medical prescription or special training.

Myths, legends, symbolism: In the legends and mythology associated with strychnos, its poisonousness was commonly used to create poison arrows and poisonous cocktails. In ancient Roman mythology, strychnos was associated with the goddess of the cross, Feronia, who was the goddess of sowing and winemaking. It was believed that she bestowed knowledge on the use of strychnos to create poisons and medicines. In modern symbolism, strychnos is sometimes associated with danger, death, and toxicity.

Strychnos poisonous, Strychnos toxifera. Description, illustrations of the plant

Strychnos poisonous, Strychnos toxifera. Botanical description of the plant, areas of growth and ecology, economic importance, applications

Strychnosus

Poisonous strychnos is a climbing plant, a species of the genus Strychnos of the Loganiaceae family.

Liana, the shoots of which are covered with rough brown bark. The plant is characterized by paired leaves with very short pedicels, growing on round, pubescent, rusty-brown twigs. The length of these leathery shiny oblong leaves reaches 7,5 cm. The flowers are white, very fragrant. After flowering, a fruit is formed - a yellow berry.

Grows in South America.

Poison (curare stored in calabash pots) is obtained from the roots and stems of this particular plant. The toxic alkaloids of Strychnos toxifera are strychnine and brucine.

Strychnine inhibits the action of the enzyme cholinesterase, resulting in muscle and respiratory paralysis. Brucine causes a strong heartbeat, which soon reaches critical values, leading to complete cardiac arrest. Such symptoms are observed when toxic substances enter the blood.

Strychnine, obtained from seeds and taken orally, acts a little differently: first, it causes an increase in the secretion of gastric juice, then, getting into the intestines, it is quickly absorbed and has a characteristic effect on the central nervous system, expressed in excitation of the vagus nerve, as a result of which breathing becomes deeper and the heart rate slows down.

This toxic effect of strychnine causes an increase in adrenaline levels, which causes stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which, in turn, can lead to a rapid increase in blood pressure and sudden cardiac arrest. Death occurs in terrible convulsions arising from the simultaneous stimulation of the motor and sensory nodes of the spinal cord. The symptoms of death from strychnine poisoning are very similar to those of death from tetanus.

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