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Picrotoxin, also known as cocculin, is a poisonous crystalline plant alkaloid, first isolated by Boullay in 1812.

Found primarily in Cocculus indicus and Anamirta cocculus, it has a strong physiological action. It acts as a non-competitive antagonist of GABA A receptors. As GABA itself is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, infusion of picrotoxin has a stimulative effect.

Chemical structure Edit

Picrotoxin (C₃₀H₃₄O₁₃) consists of two substances, picrotoxinin (C₁₅H₁₆0₆) and picrotin (C₁₅H₁₈0₇).

ReferencesEdit

• L. Dupont, O. Dideberg, J. Lamotte-Brasseur et L. Angenot (1976). Structure cristalline et moléculaire de la picrotoxine, C15H16O6.C15H18O7. Acta Cryst. B32: 2987–2993. (in French)

External linksEdit

• Ehrenberger K, Benkoe E, Felix D (1982). Suppressive action of picrotoxin, a GABA antagonist, on labyrinthine spontaneous nystagmus and vertigo in man. Acta Otolaryngol. 93 (3-4): 269–73.
• Basic Neurochemistry: GABA Receptor Physiology and Pharmacology