InsaneJournal

-notes- Strychnine
Strychnine
Formula C21H22N2O2


Strychnine is a very toxic (LD50 = 1 mg/kg), colourless crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as rodents. Strychnine causes muscular convulsions and eventually asphyxia or sheer exhaustion. The most common source is from the seeds of the Strychnos nux-vomica tree. Strychnine is one of the most bitter substances in the world. Its taste is detectable in concentrations as low as 1 ppm.

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

Strychnine poisoning can be fatal to humans, by inhalation, swallowing or absorption through eyes or mouth. It produces some of the most dramatic, terrifying, best known, and painful symptoms imaginable. For this reason, strychnine poisoning is often used in literature and film.

Ten to twenty minutes after exposure, every muscle in the body will start to simultaneously contract, starting with the head and neck. The spasms then spread to every muscle in the body, with nearly continuous convulsions. They get worse at the slightest stimulus. They progress, increasing in intensity and frequency until the backbone arches continually. Death comes from asphyxiation caused by paralysis of the brain's breathing apparatus, or by exhaustion from the convulsions. At that time, the body "freezes," even in the middle of a convulsion. Rigor mortis sets in immediately, with the eyes left wide open.

Treatment involves giving depressants, such as diazepam (intravenously), to control the convulsions, and giving an activated charcoal infusion to drink, serving to absorb any poison remaining within the digestive system. If the patient lives 24 hours, recovery is probable.

Brucine works much the same way. While brucine is related to strychnine it is not as poisonous. If a human consumes over 2 milligrams of pure brucine they will almost certainly suffer symptoms resembling strychnine poisoning.

As an additional note:
Dr. Thomas Neill Cream was a 19th Century serial killer who murdered people in the USA, Canada and Britain with strychnine.