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Schaefer has obtained this base from old seeds of Strychnos Nux-vomica which had deteriorated where is occurs to the extent of about 0.1 per cent. It forms colourless crystals from EtOH which become yellow on exposure to light. With H2S04 it gives a colourless solution that becomes green on the addition of potassium dichromate. From the available evidence it seems likely that it is not a true alkaloid but a decomposition product of either strychnine or brucine.

Vomicine is an antiplasmoidal alkaloid extracted from the stem bark of Strychnos malacoclados and is useful against malaria.

ChEBI: Vomicine is a member of carbazoles.

Schaefer.,J. Amer. Pharm. Assoc., 3,1677 (1914)