Scientific name
Strychnos nux-vomica
Family
Loganiaceae
Origin
India, Indochina, Australia
Synonyms
Walnut vomica
Used Parts
Drug represented by the seeds
Chemical constituents
- Indolic alkaloids (strychnine, brucina, indoiin);
- Iridoid glucosides (loganin).
Noce vomica in herbal medicine: properties of walnut vomica
Strychnine is a lethal substance that was used in the past for derattization. The powdered seeds find application, even if rare and dangerous, as stimulants and eupeptics, but it must be emphasized that the vomica nut is a plant to be abandoned for therapeutic purposes because it has very serious toxic effects. At doses above 30 mg, in fact, the vomica nut is able to cause death by asphyxia and paralysis following tetanus, spasmodic respiration and violent hypertensive crisis.
Contraindications
Avoid use in any case.
Pharmacological Interactions
- since the plant is not used for therapeutic purposes, no interactions of vomica with other drugs are known.
