How Do You Spell PICROTOXIN, PICROTOXINUM?

Pronunciation: [pˈɪkɹə͡ʊtˌɒksɪn] (IPA)

Picrotoxin, sometimes spelled as picrotoxinum, is a toxic compound derived from the seeds of the Anamirta cocculus plant. The spelling of the word is based on the Latinized form of the plant's name. The IPA phonetic transcription for picrotoxin is: /pɪkroʊˈtɑksɪn/. The stressed syllable is marked with a primary stress mark (ˈ), and the vowels in the word are pronounced as in "pick," "row," "tack," "sin." Despite its toxic nature, picrotoxin has been used medicinally for treating certain conditions such as epilepsy and barbiturate poisoning.

PICROTOXIN, PICROTOXINUM Meaning and Definition

  1. Picrotoxin, also known as picrotoxinum, is a naturally occurring toxic substance derived from the seeds of certain tropical plants belonging to the Anamirta and Menispermum species. It is a white crystalline powder that is insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol and organic solvents. Picrotoxin is classified as a convulsant, meaning it has the ability to induce involuntary muscle contractions, seizures, and convulsions.

    In medicinal use, picrotoxin has been employed as an analeptic and stimulant for respiratory and circulatory functions. Its convulsant properties have also made it useful in laboratory research as a tool to induce seizures in animal models. However, due to its high toxicity, picrotoxin is no longer commonly used in modern medicine.

    When ingested or administered, picrotoxin targets the central nervous system by interfering with the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). By blocking GABA receptors, picrotoxin disrupts the balance of inhibitory and excitatory signals in the brain, leading to increased neuronal activity and ultimately resulting in convulsions.

    Exposure to picrotoxin can be extremely dangerous and can cause severe respiratory distress, cardiac arrhythmias, and even death in high doses. Given its toxicity and limited therapeutic applications, picrotoxin is now primarily used in laboratory settings for research purposes rather than for medical treatments.

  2. (Br.) A neutral principle derived from the fruit of Anamirta paniculata, cocculus indicus, fishberries; it occurs in colorless, odorless crystals of bitter taste; it has been employed in epilepsy and chorea in doses of gr. 1/60-1/20 (0.001-0.003).

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for PICROTOXIN, PICROTOXINUM

  • oicrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • licrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • -icrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • 0icrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • pucrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • pjcrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • pkcrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • pocrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • p9crotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • p8crotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • pixrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • pivrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • pifrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • pidrotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • piceotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • picdotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • picfotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • pictotoxin, picrotoxinum
  • pic5otoxin, picrotoxinum
  • pic4otoxin, picrotoxinum

Etymology of PICROTOXIN, PICROTOXINUM

The word "picrotoxin" or "picrotoxinum" comes from the combination of two Greek words. "Picros" translates to "bitter" or "sharp", and "toxikon" means "poison". Therefore, "picrotoxinum" essentially means "bitter poison". This name is attributed to the bitter taste and toxic properties of the picrotoxin compound.

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