Pharmacologic Substance
picrotoxin Audio
pic·ro·tox·in [ pik-ruh-tok-sin ]
Subclass of:
Cyclohexanes; Lactones
Etymology:
Greek pikros = bitter + toxikon = poison
Definitions related to picrotoxin:
  • A mixture of PICROTOXININ and PICROTIN that is a noncompetitive antagonist at GABA-A receptors acting as a convulsant. Picrotoxin blocks the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-activated chloride ionophore. Although it is most often used as a research tool, it has been used as a CNS stimulant and an antidote in poisoning by CNS depressants, especially the barbiturates.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • Nonalkaloid extract from the seeds of Anamirta cocculus used as a CNS and respiratory stimulant to counteract toxicity of CNS depressants such as barbiturates; GABA-A receptor antagonist used to probe GABA function in the CNS.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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