ContaminantDB: Strychnine

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (8)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2009-07-23 18:26:10 UTC

Update Date

2026-05-14 19:53:53 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM002423

Identification

Common Name

Strychnine

Class

Small Molecule

Description

Strychnine is a plant toxin most commonly found in the seeds of the Strychnine tree (Strychnos nux-vomica L.). It is used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents. Strychnine causes muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia or sheer exhaustion. (2)

Contaminant Sources

Clean Air Act Chemicals
HPV EPA Chemicals
STOFF IDENT Compounds
T3DB toxins
ToxCast & Tox21 Chemicals

Contaminant Type

Amide
Amine
Ether
Human Neurotoxin
Natural Compound
Organic Compound
PFAS
Pesticide
Plant Toxin

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Value	Source
Strychnine nitrate	MeSH
Nitrate, strychnine	MeSH

Chemical Formula

C₂₁H₂₂N₂O₂

Average Molecular Mass

334.412 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

334.168 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

57-24-9

IUPAC Name

(1R,11S,18S,20R,21R,22S)-12-oxa-8,17-diazaheptacyclo[15.5.2.0^{1,18}.0^{2,7}.0^{8,22}.0^{11,21}.0^{15,20}]tetracosa-2,4,6,14-tetraen-9-one

Traditional Name

strychnos

SMILES

O=C1CC2OCC=C3CN4CCC56C4CC3C2C5N1C1=CC=CC=C61

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/C21H22N2O2/c24-18-10-16-19-13-9-17-21(6-7-22(17)11-12(13)5-8-25-16)14-3-1-2-4-15(14)23(18)20(19)21/h1-5,13,16-17,19-20H,6-11H2

InChI Key

QMGVPVSNSZLJIA-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of organic compounds known as strychnos alkaloids. These are alkaloids having a core structure based on the strychnan, stemmadenine (seco-curan), or the akuammicine (curan) skeleton.

Kingdom

Organic compounds

Super Class

Alkaloids and derivatives

Class

Strychnos alkaloids

Sub Class

Not Available

Direct Parent

Strychnos alkaloids

Alternative Parents

Substituents

Strychnan skeleton
Akuammicine-skeleton
Stemmadenine-skeleton
Carbazole
Quinolidine
Indole or derivatives
Indolizidine
Aralkylamine
Piperidinone
Delta-lactam
Piperidine
Benzenoid
N-alkylpyrrolidine
Tertiary carboxylic acid amide
Pyrrolidine
Tertiary aliphatic amine
Tertiary amine
Carboxamide group
Amino acid or derivatives
Lactam
Carboxylic acid derivative
Dialkyl ether
Ether
Oxacycle
Azacycle
Organoheterocyclic compound
Organic nitrogen compound
Organic oxide
Amine
Hydrocarbon derivative
Organic oxygen compound
Carbonyl group
Organonitrogen compound
Organooxygen compound
Organopnictogen compound
Aromatic heteropolycyclic compound

Molecular Framework

Aromatic heteropolycyclic compounds

External Descriptors

Not Available

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Exogenous

Cellular Locations

Cytoplasm
Extracellular

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Not Available

Pathways

Not Available

Applications

Biological Roles

Chemical Roles

Not Available

Physical Properties

State

Solid

Appearance

White powder.

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	287°C
Boiling Point	Not Available
Solubility	0.16 mg/mL at 25°C [SEIDELL,A (1941)]

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
Water Solubility	1.72 g/L	ALOGPS
logP	1.68	ALOGPS
logP	0.93	ChemAxon
logS	-2.3	ALOGPS
pKa (Strongest Acidic)	17.24	ChemAxon
pKa (Strongest Basic)	9.27	ChemAxon
Physiological Charge	1	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	3	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	0	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	32.78 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	0	ChemAxon
Refractivity	94.51 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	35.79 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	7	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	1	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	Yes	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	Yes	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	Yes	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	View
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	splash10-054o-2059000000-9c9867d258eb6f686577	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-001i-0922000000-0ae488e1f6d8a3f790e0	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 50V, Positive	splash10-0arr-1940000000-1dcbae9add58d438a475	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 6V, Positive	splash10-000i-0009000000-97ff69fc2f53f00f35e0	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-000i-0009000000-1970ed2ffcdb38c873e5	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-000i-0009000000-9777d9a646980781855a	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 30V, Positive	splash10-000i-0019000000-4a723a3d691d547ae524	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-001r-0973000000-1139523cc425d4420a28	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-001r-0973000000-8196755eea79b4fbd6e3	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 50V, Positive	splash10-0arr-1940000000-f4f3af94b40551059b66	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-001r-0973000000-d249cbb76d91c50f6ff5	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-000i-0009000000-d0ea663b6fb86240d3b6	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-000i-0009000000-cda19b8f168b05999f57	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 50V, Positive	splash10-0arr-1940000000-83e42c125c0ac6649ae5	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-000i-0009000000-bbb67155f9bf87a22b0d	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-000i-0009000000-2d17c0436331c78f55cb	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-0gbi-0097000000-e2bbd426370e9e71a04e	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-001i-0009000000-4ff6c1229dbbcbf5de8e	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-001i-0009000000-c2c0c41523f7d6fdbb43	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-0007-7093000000-e83bdf997991b31eba21	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-000i-0009000000-1970ed2ffcdb38c873e5	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-000i-0009000000-1970ed2ffcdb38c873e5	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-000i-0009000000-e0cd954dd4360ffecf3d	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-001i-0009000000-825d16fc538c89c6802b	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-001i-0009000000-825d16fc538c89c6802b	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-05o0-0019000000-9e25ed1d2680a0c97f10	Spectrum

Toxicity Profile

Route of Exposure

Oral (ingestion) (3) ; dermal (3)

Mechanism of Toxicity

Strychnine acts as an antagonist at the inhibitory or strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor, a ligand-gated chloride channel in the spinal cord and the brain. (2)

Metabolism

Not Available

Toxicity Values

LD50: 2350 ug/kg (Oral, Rat) (4) LD50: 1100 ug/kg (Intraperitoneal, Rat) (4) LD50: 1200 ug/kg (Subcutaneous, Rat) (4) LD50: 582 ug/kg (Intravenous, Rat) (4)

Lethal Dose

Not Available

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).

Uses/Sources

Minimum Risk Level

Not Available

Health Effects

Death may result from asphyxia or sheer exhaustion. (2)

Symptoms

Strychnine causes muscular convulsions of increasing intensity and frequency and eventually death through asphyxia or sheer exhaustion. (2)

Treatment

Treatment of strychnine poisoning involves an oral application of an activated charcoal infusion to absorb any poison within the digestive tract that has not yet been absorbed into the blood. Anticonvulsants such as phenobarbital or diazepam are administered to control convulsions, along with muscle relaxants such as dantrolene to combat muscle rigidity. (1)

Concentrations

Not Available

External Links

DrugBank ID

Not Available

HMDB ID

HMDB0258517

FooDB ID

Not Available

Phenol Explorer ID

Not Available

KNApSAcK ID

C00001770

BiGG ID

Not Available

BioCyc ID

Not Available

METLIN ID

Not Available

PDB ID

Not Available

Wikipedia Link

Strychnine

Chemspider ID

5113

ChEBI ID

Not Available

PubChem Compound ID

5304

Kegg Compound ID

Not Available

YMDB ID

Not Available

ECMDB ID

Not Available

References

Synthesis Reference

Not Available

MSDS

Not Available

General References

Not Available

Strychnine (CHEM002423)

Structure for CHEM002423: Strychnine