S0532

Strychnine

• Synonym(s): (−)-Strychnine
• Empirical Formula (Hill Notation): C₂₁H₂₂N₂O₂
• CAS Number: 57-24-9
• Molecular Weight: 334.41
• Beilstein: 52979
• EC Number: 200-319-7
• MDL number: MFCD00005941
• UNSPSC Code: 12352210
• PubChem Substance ID: 24899441
• NACRES: NA.54

Properties

• mp: 284-286 °C (lit.)
• solubility: chloroform: soluble, clear to hazy
• SMILES string: [H][C@@]12CC(=O)N3c4ccccc4[C@]56CC[N@H]7CC(=CCO1)[C@]([H])(C[C@@H]57)[C@]2([H])[C@]36[H]
• InChI: 1S/C21H22N2O2/c24-18-10-16-19-13-9-17-21(6-7-22(17)11-12(13)5-8-25-16)14-3-1-2-4-15(14)23(18)20(19)21/h1-5,13,16-17,19-20H,6-11H2/t13-,16-,17-,19-,20-,21+/m0/s1
• InChI key: QMGVPVSNSZLJIA-FVWCLLPLSA-N

Description

General description

Strychnine is a colorless, odourless and bitter tasting powder. It is absorbed in skin, gastrointestinaland respiratory tract. Strychnine generates oxides of nitrogen and carbon on decomposition.

Strychnine is a glycine receptor antagonist not associated with the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. It is an alkaloid extracted from Strychnos nux vomica seeds.

Application

Strychnine has been used as a glycine receptors antagonist in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal and rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) neurons. It has also been used as type C glycine receptor antagonist in direction selective (DS) retinal cells.

Strychnine has been used in antagonist profiling to characterize a novel nicotinic receptor in Aplysia neuroendocrine cells.

Biochem/physiol Actions

At low doses, strychnine is used for circulatory problems, gastrointestinal disorders and eye diseases.

Strychnine is used as a rodenticide and a glycine receptor antagonist, which inhibits Renshaw cell-motor neuron synapse. It binds to the α subunit N-terminal region of the glycine receptor. The effect of strychnine is neutralized in the presence of glycine receptor agonist ivermectin. Strychnine also inhibits leukocyte motility.

Convulsant; glycine receptor antagonist not associated with the NMDA receptor.

Safety Information

• Pictograms: GHS06,GHS09
• Signal Word: Danger
• Hazard Statements: H300 + H310,H410
• Precautionary Statements: P262 - P264 - P273 - P280 - P301 + P310 - P302 + P352 + P310
• Hazard Classifications: Acute Tox. 1 Dermal - Acute Tox. 1 Oral - Aquatic Acute 1 - Aquatic Chronic 1
• Storage Class Code: 6.1A - Combustible acute toxic Cat. 1 and 2 / very toxic hazardous materials
• WGK: WGK 2
• Personal Protective Equipment: dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves