An extract from the bark and juices of various trees that has been used for centuries by South American Indians as an arrow poison. Curare kills by causing muscle paralysis. Synthetic compounds related to curare are used to produce paralysis during surgery.
n. an extract from the bark of South American trees (Strychnos and Chondodendron species) that relaxes and paralyses voluntary muscle. Used for centuries as an arrow poison by South American Indians, curare was formerly employed to control the muscle spasms of tetanus and as a muscle relaxant in surgical operations.
An acetic-acid ester of the organic base choline, acetylcholine is one of the substances which mediates the transmission of nerve impulses from one nerve to another, or from a nerve to the organ it acts on, such as muscles. It acts on both muscarinic receptors (blocked by ATROPINE and responsible for ganglionic and parasympathetic transmission and also for sympathetic innervation of sweat glands – see under AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM) and nicotinic receptors (responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles and blocked by curare, thus causing paralysis). Acetylcholine is rapidly destroyed by cholinesterase, an ENZYME present in the blood. ANTICHOLINERGIC drugs such as PHYSOSTIGMINE prolong the action of acetylcholine.... acetylcholine
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