A highly toxic mixture of approximately 40 alkaloids occurring in several species of South American trees. It acts on the central nervous system, and
derivatives are used to some extent in medicine as
a muscle relaxant.
Definition
A resin obtained from thebark of South American trees of thegenera Strychnos and Chondrodendronthat causes paralysis of voluntarymuscle. It acts by blocking the actionof the neurotransmitter acetylcholineat neuromuscular junctions.Curare is used as an arrow poison bySouth American Indians and was formerlyused as a muscle relaxant insurgery.
