Toxiferine is a type of curare, a plant toxin known for its use as paralyzing arrow poison by South American indigenous people. It can be extracted from a variety of plants, including Strychnos toxifera and Chondrodendron tomentosum. Curares are active only by an injection. They are harmless if taken orally because curare compounds are too large and too highly charged to pass through the lining of the digestive tract to be absorbed into the blood. (1)
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.
No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Uses/Sources
Toxiferine is a type of curare, a plant toxin known for its use as paralyzing arrow poison by South American indigenous people. It can be extracted from a variety of plants, including Strychnos toxifera and Chondrodendron tomentosum. (1)
Minimum Risk Level
Not Available
Health Effects
Curare is a muscle relaxant that can lead to death from asphyxiation, as the respiratory muscles are unable to contract. (1)
Symptoms
Curare is a muscle relaxant and thus causes paraylsis. (1)
Treatment
The antidote for curare poisoning is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (anti-cholinesterase), such as physostigmine or neostigmine. (1)
