Abstract:
Picrotoxin is the physiologically active principle of the various species of cocculus creeper and has been isolated from the fruit of Menisperum cocculus and Anomirta cocculus.
It was first isolated from the latter by the French chemist Boullay in 1812. (1)
This very poisonous substance although similar in its toxic effects to strychnine, a nitrogenous alkaloid, contains no nitrogen and belongs to the series of substances known as the "Oxygen Alkaloids" or Amaroids.