Embedded Files
Toxicity
Toxicity
Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms: Asphyxia, decreased blood pressure, impaired function of coughing and swallowing, muscle relaxation, paralysis (including the diaphragm), respiratory depression, speech impairment.
Duration of Symptoms: 20 - 90 minutes
Rate of Poison: 2 - 4 minutes
Causes Death: Yes, within a few hours. Results from respiratory failure.
Treatment: Artificial respiration, prostigmine.
Historically, this plant was used to hunt small game by lacing the arrows with poison, causing animals to paralyze almost immediately. It has also been used for surgeries, paralyzing the patients to prevent them from moving around while the doctor worked. The poison is only active if it reaches the bloodstream.
Photo: Scott Zona - Flickr
License: Creative Commons NonCommercial 2.0
Main Toxin
Main Toxin
Molecular structure of d-Tubocurarine (ChemDraw)
Tubocurarine Chloride
Tubocurarine Chloride
Tubocurarine chloride (d-Tubocurarine) is a curare alkaloid and a muscle relaxant that is only effective when it enters into the blood stream. If swallowed or inhaled, it may result in acute toxicity. To do this, it blocks acetylcholine activity, preventing muscles the ability to contract by preventing the depolarization of the nerves.
Level of Toxin: 2 - 3 μg
Impacting Dosage: 3 mg/mL
Other Toxins and Chemical Components
Other Toxins and Chemical Components
Curarine
Curarine
Curarine, an alkaloid, is also known to block acetylcholine activity, like d-Tubocurarine. This results in relaxation of the muscles, causing paralysis due to the inhibition of the ability of the muscles to contract.
Level of Toxin: 0.002% to 0.003%
Impacting Dosage: ~0.735 mg/kg
Protocurarine
Protocurarine
Protocurarine, an alkaloid, is also known to block acetylcholine activity, like d-Tubocurarine. This results in the relaxation of the muscles, causing paralysis due to the inhibition of the ability of the muscles to contract.
Level of Toxin: Unknown
Impacting Dosage: ~0.735 mg/kg
N-Benzylphthalimide
N-Benzylphthalimide
N-Benzylphthalimide is considered to be an irritant that may be harmful if swallowed.
Level of Toxin: Unknown
Impacting Dosage: ~0.735 mg/kg
Chondrocurarine
Isochondrodendrine
Pelonine
Chondodine
L-Bebeerine
Tomentocurine
Chondrofoline
L-Tubocurarine
Cycleanine
Norcycleanine
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: All parts
Contact Hazard: Yes, may cause dermatitis.
Animals Affected: Birds
Medicinal Value
Medicinal Value
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Root
Properties: Anesthetic, antiseptic, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, relaxant
Components: d-tubocurarine
Antidote: Strychnine and tetanus poisoning, poisonous snake bites.
Preparation: Decoction, injection, intravenous fluid, tonic.
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Treatments
Treatments
Edema
Gonorrhea
Jaundice
Kidney Stones
Rheumatism
Surgery: Doctors would use this to cause paralysis on the patient to keep them still (despite not being a pain reliever). Artificial respiration was needed.
Tetanus
Water Retention
Location
Location
Europe: Doctors would use this as an anesthetic for surgery.
Claimed Treatments
Claimed Treatments
Bruises: Plant is used externally.
Contusions: Plant is used externally.
Edema: Root decoction
Fever
Kidney Stones: Root decoction.
Madness
Prostatistis: Root decoction
Testicular Inflammation: Root decoction.
Urinary Tract Infections: Root decoction
Location
Location
Brazil: They use this plant to treat bruises, dropsy, and madness.
Edibility
Edibility
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Fruit
Nutrients: None known
Taste: Bitter, bitter-sweet
WARNING: Not enough data to determine if it can be safely consumed.
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
Fruit: Consumed by some Indian Tribes
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
Fruit: Consumed by some Indian Tribes
General Facts
General Facts
Plant Facts
Plant Facts
Illustration of curare by R. Bentley & H. Trimen
License: Creative Commons 4.0
Family: Menispermaceae (Moonseed Family)
Genus: Chondrodendron
Other Names: Ampihuasca Blanca, Antinoopa, Antinupa, Comida de Vendado, Curari, Grieswurzel, Ice Vine, Ourari, Pareira, Pareira Brava, Urari, Uva-da-serra, Uva-do-mato, Velvet Leaf, Vigne Sauvage, Worali, Woorari.
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Bloom Colours: Greenish-white
Bloom Time: Unknown
Type: Perennial
Height: 90 ft
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Habitat: Canopies, rainforests
Origin: South America
States: None known
Provinces: None known
Related Species
Related Species
Other Species
Other Species
Chondrodendron candicans
Chondrodendron iquitanum
Chondrodendron tomentocarpum
Chondrodendron convolvulaceum
Chondrodendron macrophyllum
Chondrodendron toxicoferum
Chondrodendron filipendulum
Chondrodendron microphyllum
Chondrodendron hederifolium
Chondrodendron tamoides
Sources
Sources
Toxicity Section
Toxicity Section
Blue Plant Biomes. (2000). Curare. From https://blueplanetbiomes.org/curare.php
Curare. (n.d.) Interactions. From http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2011/kobishop_bria/interactions.htm
DrugBank. (n.d.) Tubocurarine. From https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB01199
Evergreen. (2017). The Curare Plant: A Cure All, or Kill All?. From https://sites.evergreen.edu/plantchemeco/curare-a-cure-all-kill-all-plant/
Flores, F. A. (1984). Notes on some medicinal and poisonous plants of Amazonian Peru. Advances in economic botany, 1, 1-8.
HALE, D. E. (1946). Curare. Cleveland Clinic Quarterly, 13, 177-182. From https://www.ccjm.org/content/ccjom/13/3/177.full.pdf
Lee, M. R. (2005). Curare: the South American arrow poison. JR Coll Physicians Edinb, 35(1), 83-92. From https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/curare.pdf
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (n.d.). Indications & dosages Interactions tubocurarine chloride... From http://download.lww.com/downloads/thePoint/9780781727594_Morton/Drug_Monograph/DM/dm0036.pdf
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2023). PubChem Compound LCSS for CID 6000, Tubocurarine chloride. Retrieved June 3, 2023 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Tubocurarine-chloride#datasheet=LCSS.
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2023). PubChem Compound LCSS for CID 75059, N-Benzylphthalimide. Retrieved June 4, 2023 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/N-Benzylphthalimide#datasheet=LCSS.
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 3-4)
Taylor, L. (2005). Curare. Rain-Tree Publishers. From https://rain-tree.com/curare.htm
Trevan, J. W. (1951). CURARE AND CURARIMIMETIC SUBSTANCES. Science Progress (1933-), 39(155), 401-426. From https://www.jstor.org/stable/43414207
Wikipedia. (2023). Curare. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curare#cite_note-15
Medicinal Value Section
Medicinal Value Section
Blue Plant Biomes. (2000). Curare. From https://blueplanetbiomes.org/curare.php
Curare. (n.d.) Interactions. From http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2011/kobishop_bria/interactions.htm
DrugBank. (n.d.) Tubocurarine. From https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB01199
Evergreen. (2017). The Curare Plant: A Cure All, or Kill All?. From https://sites.evergreen.edu/plantchemeco/curare-a-cure-all-kill-all-plant/
HALE, D. E. (1946). Curare. Cleveland Clinic Quarterly, 13, 177-182. From https://www.ccjm.org/content/ccjom/13/3/177.full.pdf
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 3-4)
Taylor, L. (2005). Curare. Rain-Tree Publishers. From https://rain-tree.com/curare.htm
Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2023-06-04. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Chondrodendron+tomentosum
Wikipedia. (2023). Curare. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curare#cite_note-15
Edibility Section [Insufficient Data]
Edibility Section [Insufficient Data]
Curare. (n.d.) Interactions. From http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2011/kobishop_bria/interactions.htm
Taylor, L. (2005). Curare. Rain-Tree Publishers. From https://rain-tree.com/curare.htm
General Facts Section
General Facts Section
Dave's Garden. (n.d.). Curare Vine, Pareira. From https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/185962/
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 3-4)
Taylor, L. (2005). Curare. Rain-Tree Publishers. From https://rain-tree.com/curare.htm
Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2023-06-04. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Chondrodendron+tomentosum
WFO Plant List. (2022). Chondrodendron. From https://wfoplantlist.org/plant-list/
Date of page creation: June 4, 2023
Updated page: June 4, 2024
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