Action neuromusculaire et cardiaque d'un extrait alcaloïdique de Strychnos icaja

Strychnos icaja is a well-known tetanizing poison, containing strychnine and 12-hydroxy-derivative amongst many other alkaloids. We have studied quaternary alkaloids of S. icaja root barks, which exhibit a prononced muscle-relaxant effect and a high cardiotoxicity. Our expriments prove that the pharmacological action of S. icaja aqueous extract is different from that of S. nux-vomica extract. Therefore none African Strychnos species shows an exclusively strychnine-like effect in all its extracts.