Story
Subspecies
Tubo-curare (Pipe curare)
Pot-curare (Potted curare)
Calabash curare (Pumpkin curare)
Stored in the fruits of small tableware pumpkins. This extract is the most poisonous and is used for arrows and spear tips when hunting large animals and during military operations. The most important component of the extract are alkaloids from the bark of the highly poisonous plant Strychnos toxifera Schomb.
Effect of poison
The poison paralyzes the endings of the motor nerves of all striated muscles, and therefore the muscles that control breathing, and death occurs from suffocation with almost undisturbed consciousness. With very small doses, it is possible to return to life by maintaining artificial respiration (the poison is excreted by the kidneys). A scratch in the skin is enough for poisoning. It is used in physiological practice and for immobilizing experimental animals. ((The poison causes paralysis of the central nervous system, spasms of muscles and blood vessels))?, thereby leading to painful but quick death (5-10 minutes).
Antidote
Source
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
See what “Curare Poison” is in other dictionaries: Strong poison, get it. in South America from the plant Strychnos toxifera and S. guijanensis. Represented dark shiny resin. mass, aromatic smell and bitter taste. Savages used. for smearing arrows. Used in medicine. Dictionary of foreign words,... ...
Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
Modern encyclopedia A strong poison obtained by condensing extracts from chilibuha and other plants of the loganiaceae family. Contains curarines. When it enters the bloodstream, it has a neuroparalytic effect. Used by the natives of South. America for poisoning arrows. Introduction... ...
Big Encyclopedic Dictionary Curare - CURARE, the general name of potent poisons obtained by condensing aqueous extracts from some tropical plants of chilibuha and other species of the genus Strychnos (loganiaceae family). The active principle is alkaloids of the curarine group. They provide muscular...
CURARE, a poisonous resinous extract obtained from various plants of the tropical regions of South America, from the genus Chondodendron and Strychnos. The active elements of this substance are ALKALOIDS. They cause muscle paralysis. Indians of South America... ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary
CURARE, uncl., cf. (American vurari). A potent plant poison containing strychnine. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
Common name: muscular paralytic. poisons obtained by concentrating aqueous extracts of plants of the genera (Chondrodendron) family. Lunospermaceae (Menispermaceae), strychnos and some others. Used by the South Indians. America as a poison for... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary
Noun, number of synonyms: 1 poison (134) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary
A South American arrow poison prepared primarily from the bark of the Strychnos toxifera plant. Indians in Guiana and along the banks of the Amazon River smear the ends of their arrows with this poison in order to more accurately kill the intended victim. Poison from subcutaneous tissue... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron
curare- curare. Pronounced [kurare]... Dictionary of difficulties of pronunciation and stress in modern Russian language
Family Loganiaceae – Loganiaceae. The plant is deadly poisonous!
Pharmacy name: curare (extract from the bark of South American plants of the genus Strychnos) – Curare.
Botanical description. Chondrodendron tomentosum is a large vine, the woody stem of which reaches 10 cm in diameter. It has large alternating heart-shaped 10-20 centimeter leaves with long pedicels. The upper surface of the leaves is smooth with pronounced veins; the reverse side of the leaf is covered with whitish hairs. The greenish-white small flowers, collected in clusters, come in male and female varieties. Juicy 1-2 mm fruits formed on female flowers have an oval shape, narrowed towards the base.
From the history of the plant. Indian tribes varied the name of the plant that serves as the raw material for the production of curare poison; he was called wurari, wurara, kurari, kurare, kururu, urali, vurali, etc. In addition to the abundance of options for the name of this plant poison, there has long been disagreement about which plant serves as the raw material for its production. And the Indians themselves - after all, there were many tribes - indeed sometimes used different types of plants and their compositions. Only in 1938, the American scientist Richard Gill was able to clearly identify the plant Chondodendron tomentosum from the family Menispermaceae as the source of curare. However, further research made it possible to clarify that the Indians used two types of curare, dividing them according to the symptoms of death they caused, the raw materials, and the methods of storing the prepared extract: in a pot or in a hollow tube - the processed stem of one of the local plants. The pots were mainly used to store poison prepared from Strychnos toxifera (family Loganiaceae). This poison used the poisonous qualities inherent in all plants of the strychnine family. However, the fastest and most powerful poison, which had to be stored in special tubes, was made from the leaves and roots of Chondrodendron tomentosum, which grows in abundance throughout western Amazonia.
Curare is one of the strongest poisons on earth, which is a plant extract. This poison has been widely used since ancient times by the Indian tribes of South America. It was mainly used for hunting - they lubricated arrowheads with it. However, like many poisons, curare was used for more than just hunting animals. The Spanish conquistadors were the first white people to experience the effects of this deadly poison, which were used to smear the arrows of Indian tribes resisting their enslavement. And stories about the mysterious, terrible Indian poison caused almost sacred awe among white people. It is believed that curare was first brought to Europe by an Englishman, Sir Walter Raleigh, who was not only a knight at the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England, but also a famous poet, writer, traveler and discoverer of new lands. However, no written evidence of curar remained after him. The first records of this poisonous substance were made by the Spanish priest, Father d'Acuña and d'Artieda, during his visit to the Amazon basin in 1693, and in 1745 the French scientist Charles Marie de la Condamin, who led a scientific expedition to Peru, did not He not only brought samples of this terrible poison to the French Academy of Sciences, but also the technology for its production, which he gleaned (or rather, stolen) from the Indians.
Active ingredients. The active alkaloid responsible for the toxic properties of Chondrodendron tomentosum is D-tubocurarine.
Pharmacological properties. This alkaloid (D-tubocurarine) is an agent that blocks the nerve impulses that control muscles. This blockage leads to muscle paralysis: first of all, the fingers and toes and eyelids stop working, then the nerve endings responsible for vision and hearing are paralyzed, then paralysis affects the face, neck, arms and legs, and finally death occurs from respiratory paralysis . During agony, inflammation of the liver occurs, and the skin acquires a characteristic bluish tint. For a deadly poison to begin its harmful effects, it must enter the bloodstream. But if you lick with your tongue, you will stay alive.
Application in medicine. Indian shamans have long learned to use the diuretic properties of curare and gave microdoses of curare to patients for medicinal purposes, alleviating attacks of violent insanity, and also used it for dropsy, fever, urolithiasis and - externally - in the form of compresses for severe bruises. Curare contains very poisonous alkaloids that paralyze the activity of the heart, nerves and blood vessels. The classic method of preparing curare poison involves the extraction of crushed leaves, stems and roots of Chondrodendron tomentosum over low heat, sometimes with the addition of the blood of poisonous animals and reptiles (for example, poisonous frogs). The boiling mass was constantly stirred, bringing it to thickening.
The lighter poison, necessary for hunting small animals, was light, and the strongest was a dark brown or black mass of sticky or even almost solid consistency, with a distinct resinous odor. This substance was used to smear long spines or specially treated sticks, which were blown forcefully out of blow tubes to hit the target. The name curare comes from the Native American word for poison. The production of curare poison was the prerogative of the shaman of the tribe; violation of this rule was punishable by the immediate death of the offender.
Curare poison is considered the strongest toxic substance obtained by humans from dangerous plants. The harmful compound has caused fear among people since ancient times. The Indians made it in a certain way and performed specific rituals. What tree does curare poison come from? What is it, is it really dangerous and does it cause an overdose?
What is it, application
Curare poison has been used by the tribes of South America since ancient times. Aborigines and Indians used a dangerous compound to hunt animals. The main sources of this toxin are considered to be vines similar to a tree trunk. It is called curare, the poison got its name precisely because of it. Only shamans had the right to prepare such a remedy; the preparation scheme was kept under a serious ban.
The liana belongs to the Loganiaceae family and is often found in South America. This is an evergreen tree. The stem is woody, the diameter often reaches ten centimeters. The leaves of the plant are large, heart-shaped. One side is smooth, the other has short, soft pile. The flowers and fruits of the vine are small.
However, different tribes used different plants to prepare the poison, so scientists for a long time could not determine from which tree the curare poison was created. Chilibuhu (emetic nut) and chondodendron plants were used for a similar purpose.
European research on venom
The toxin was discovered eighty years ago. American scientist Walter Raleigh studied the Aborigines. During research, I noticed that they use some kind of substance that kills animals in a matter of seconds. He managed to get a few drops of curare, tasted them and lost consciousness for a long time. The amount of poison was not enough to kill him.
After some time, the French scientist Charles Marie de la Condamin managed to steal several samples of the poison and the technology for its production. Subsequently, scientists studied the substance for a long time, but at the beginning of the nineteenth century they could not understand the technology and determine the source of the toxin. It was only possible to determine the composition under Napoleon III. Since the forties of the twentieth century, curare poison has been used for medical purposes.
How is this poison obtained?
What is curare poison made from? The dried plant is of no interest to the natives. Curare poison is extracted from a freshly picked vine. For Aborigines and Indians, making a toxin is a sacred act, so they carefully prepare for it.
People who will mine curare fast for some time - they eat certain foods, are constantly silent and do not have relationships with women.
The manufacturing process takes at least eight days. On the first day, the tree collected for curare poison is cleaned and crushed to a mushy state. On the second day, in the evening, a fire is lit, on which they begin to cook the poisonous substance.
Care must be taken to keep the fire small and constant. In the morning the fire is extinguished, and the poison is left for another couple of days. After this time, the ritual is repeated. The poison is prepared only at night. Other poisons (plants, snakes, frogs) are also added to the container with the liquid to enhance the effect of curare. During preparation, people are silent, women are forbidden to approach the sacred place.
After all the manipulations, a substance with a viscous consistency and dark brown color remains in the pot. It is stored in specific pots and used not only for hunting, but also for exchange with other tribes.
Types of curare
There are several types of toxin. Curare was made from different combinations of toxins and was used for different purposes. It was stored in three ways.
Kinds:
- Pipe (tubo-curare) is considered the main type of hazardous substance. It was stored in hollow bamboo stems that reached twenty-five centimeters. Used to coat arrowheads and help kill small animals.
- Potted (pot-curare). The toxin is stored in specific clay pots and is used for bird hunting. The poison was not applied to arrows, but to small darts blown through a special tube. The target was hit quickly and silently.
- Pumpkin (calabash-curare). This connection is considered the strongest. Storage was carried out in pumpkin fruits, the substance was used for military purposes and when hunting large animals. Poison was applied to spears and arrows. Even a scratch is enough for a living organism to die a quick but painful death. When preparing such a toxin, other poisons were often added to the vat to increase its damaging power.
The Aborigines and Indians always knew exactly which poison to use for poisoning. Thanks to this, they could either kill the victim or simply deprive him of the ability to move for some time.
Why is curare so dangerous?
It is impossible to get poisoned by pure tree sap. Even the prepared product will not cause harm if consumed. Why is curare toxin so dangerous?
Scientists have studied the properties of the poisonous compound for a long time and have discovered a certain feature. The poison does not penetrate the body through the skin and mucous membranes; the acidic environment of the stomach destroys it.
Therefore, the meat of animals killed with curare can be eaten without danger. For a harmful compound to begin its harmful effects, it must enter the bloodstream. The active dangerous substance - tubocurarine - begins destruction precisely from the circulatory system and provokes the development of negative symptoms.
The poison causes poisoning and paralysis of muscle tissue, but does not affect the nervous system. A living organism is fully aware of what is happening to it at such a moment. Gradually, complete paralysis occurs and the respiratory process is disrupted. The toxin blocks neuron signals from the brain to muscle fibers.
It is possible to stop the process by performing artificial respiration; it is performed until the poison is completely eliminated from the body by the kidneys. Death from curare is quick, but quite painful due to the full awareness of the process taking place.
Application in medicine
Research on curare has been carried out for a long time, antidotes have been found that stop the destructive effects of the poison. However, scientists were able to determine ways to use such a toxic substance for medical purposes. It was determined that it was possible to control the effect of the poison on the body by changing the dosage.
Experiments were conducted on the use of the substance during surgical interventions in anesthesiology, as muscle relaxants. The toxin has many beneficial properties; it can be used for various diseases.
Diseases:
- Pathological processes in the urinary system, the presence of stones;
- nervous disorders, epileptic seizures, schizophrenia;
- tetanus;
- dropsy, fever;
- compresses for bruises.
Use in small dosages has a beneficial effect on visual, auditory, and taste qualities. Vision becomes sharper, and there is an improvement in the perception of color and brightness.
In folk medicine, the poison is not used due to its increased toxicity. Although it is possible to find offers on the Internet to use curare poison against cancer, this is fraught with rapid death from poisoning. Manufactured mainly in Germany and Sweden. Treatment with such a substance is unacceptable in people with weak kidneys, liver and low blood pressure.
Curare poison is one of the most dangerous substances on the planet. A small amount of drops can kill a person, so this compound is not commercially available. The presence of beneficial properties makes it possible to use curare for medicinal purposes.
Video: more about the poisonous plant
Curare poison is a legendary substance that was feared by all colonizers of South America without exception in the 16th century. It was enough to receive the slightest scratch from the arrows of the natives to die a strange and mysterious death. Over time, the secret of curare, which was hidden by local residents, was revealed and now this substance is used to save lives, and not take them.
Composition and use of curare
The South American Indians of Guianna have long learned to use the flora that thrives in the Amazon to make it easier for them to hunt animals and birds. In this they were helped by such plants as the vine Chondrodendron tomentosum and the evergreen tree Strychnos toxifera. These are the 2 main sources of curare, however, very often compositions of toxins derived from other poisonous plants and animals were added to the mixture, which had a similar effect.
The base of the poison was made from crushed parts of the plant, which were boiled over low heat. After adding all the necessary components, a toxic sticky mixture was obtained with the color, smell and consistency of resin. Small arrows made from palm leaves were lubricated with it and sent to the target using a bamboo tube.
European research on venom
Almost 100 years after the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors first entered the territory of the Indians of Guianna, the English traveler Walter Raleigh was able to see and experience the effects of curare without death.
In 1617, he entered the Orinoco jungle, taking a guide from the natives. Noticing an unusual method of hunting and a weapon that killed animals even with the slightest injury, he tried to independently explore curare. A couple of drops of poison that got into the blood led to a prolonged loss of consciousness.
A little later, the Amazon basin was visited by the Frenchman Charles Marie de la Condamin. He was able to steal samples of the poison and the technology for its preparation from the Indians, and then bring the secret of curare to Europe. But until the mid-19th century, scientists were unable to accurately explain the effect of the poison and find from which tree it was obtained. Only Claude Bernard, having received a sample of curare from Napoleon III, was able to give the first answers to these questions.
And since 1942, thanks to Canadians Harald Griffith and Enid Johnson, it was discovered that curare is a poison that can save lives. Thanks to their research, doctors now have muscle relaxants.
Types of curare
There are 3 varieties of this substance. They were prepared from different compositions of toxins and were used for various purposes. These subspecies of curare are known as pipe, pot and pumpkin, reflecting the storage methods. Only tribal shamans had the right to make them. All other natives only used this means for hunting and military operations.
Curare is divided into subspecies as follows:
- Tubo curare is a pipe poison. It was stored in hollow bamboo stalks 25 cm long. This is the main type of toxin, it was prepared from the root of Chondrodendron tomentosum. The Indians used this poison to lubricate arrows - a small amount of the substance was enough to kill small animals.
- Pot-curare. This variety gives the poison its name. "Curare" is translated as "Bird Venom". It was this type of toxin, which was stored in clay pots, that was used to hunt birds. It was not used to lubricate arrows. In order not to scare away the birds with whistles and air vibrations, the Indians used small darts blown through a tube. They silently wounded and quickly killed the hunter's prey. This curare poison is obtained from Strychnos castelniaeana species
- Calabash curare. It was this poison that terrified the Spaniards of the 16th century. This is a military type of poison that was stored in pumpkin fruits. It was used against large and dangerous animals, as well as people. This curare was applied to arrows and spears. One scratch left by such a weapon was enough to paralyze and quickly but painfully kill any enemy. The bark of Strychnos toxifera was used to prepare this poison.
The Indians of Guianna always knew exactly when and what poison to use. By controlling the dosage and composition of curare, they could simply immobilize the enemy or kill him instantly.
Why is curare so dangerous?
If you find the tree from which curare poison is obtained and taste any part of this plant, you are unlikely to get poisoned. Moreover, even after all the shaman’s manipulations, the contents of pots, pumpkins and pipes can be practically safely eaten in any quantity.
The secret is that the poison does not penetrate the body through the mucous membranes. Therefore, you can safely eat poisoned prey, enjoying curare as a spice that turns meat into a delicacy, giving it tenderness and a fresh aroma.
To affect the body, the toxin must enter directly into the circulatory system. It is in this case that tubocurarine, the main active ingredient of curare, has a paralyzing effect.
The action of the poison is aimed at relaxing and paralyzing the muscles. In this case, the central nervous system is not affected, that is, the affected animal and the person continue to feel and perceive everything that happens to it.
Death usually occurs because the muscles of the respiratory system relax. Choking can only be prevented by artificial respiration. It must be continued until the kidneys remove most of the curare from the body.
The secret of such an unusual effect of the poison is that it is not the muscles or nerves that are affected. Curare only blocks the signal from neurons at the time of its transmission to muscle fibers. Thus, the orders of the brain simply do not reach the “addressee”.
Use of the substance in medicine
Thanks to numerous studies, scientists were eventually able to find substances that could suppress the effect of bird venom. They are called Neostigmine and Physostigmine. You can also use any cholinesterase inhibitors for these purposes. But the use of curare for medicinal purposes has become much more interesting for doctors.
This idea is not new. South American Indian shamans often used curare for compresses and instead of diuretics. Modern scientists use poison to relax muscles, which makes it easier to perform surgical operations with increased muscle tone.
In addition, in the 1920s, the Italian scientist Bove was able to create a less dangerous variety of curare - the substance gallamine. The effect of this poison is easier to control and can be used with less risk to the health of patients. Gallamine is now a well-known treatment for Parkinson's disease.
The efforts of modern doctors are aimed at creating tablets that have the effect of curare. The drugs Elatin and Condelfin are taken orally to treat tetanus, hyperkinesis, multiple sclerosis and other diseases. In this case, paralysis of the respiratory system occurs last, therefore the danger to human life during the treatment course is minimal.
Curare is a large vine, the stem is the same as that of a tree, reaching up to 10 centimeters in volume. It is distinguished by large heart-shaped leaves, which have alternately placed pedicels. The leaves are smooth, have expressive veins, and are hairy underneath with a white tint. Curare has small green flowers that can be collected in tassels. Female flowers are distinguished by small oval fruits that may taper.
Description of curare
The plant was also used by the Indians; they called it kururu, curari. They considered it one of the best poisons, so they smeared it on their onions and thus got rid of their enemies. American scientists proved that the Indians used two varieties of curare; they differed in the symptoms that occurred in human poisoning, as well as in their raw materials and method of storage.
Curare extract was often stored in a special pre-treated bamboo tube, or perhaps in pots. Curare is one of the most potent poisons, which is why it was used for hunting. Everyone was afraid of this unusual, mysterious and dangerous plant.
Then the poison began to spread throughout Europe; it was discovered by the talented poet, writer, knight W. Reilly. There is little information left about curare; all records were destroyed. After a while, curare poison appeared in France, and there was also new information on how to prepare it correctly. In ancient times, little was known about the curare plant; it is known that it belonged to the genus Strychnos, grew in South American territory, and was used as a weapon against conquerors. It was also known that the poison affected a person very quickly, in a minute.
Further study of curare led to great discoveries, which became the basis for the progressive development of scientific knowledge.
In the 19th century, French scientists conducted many experiments and proved the incredible fact that curare does not affect the nervous and muscular systems, but they wondered why, then, after the poison, a person was paralyzed and died. Some people theorized that there was something between the nervous system and the muscular system that reacted negatively to the curare poison, called the synapse. Then they already proved how poison affects the human body; after it enters it, it does not transmit impulses, so the muscles become inactive - first they completely relax, then breathing is paralyzed and the person dies.
During the Second World War, one of the elements of curare, intocostrin, was used, in this way it was possible to reduce the narcotic dosage.
Modern medicine appreciates the plant's chemicals, they are used for...
How to properly prepare and collect curare?
A dried plant loses all its properties; to obtain poison, you need a fresh plant. Since ancient times, poison was prepared in this way: strychnos bark was thrown into boiling water, then brought to a boil. The poison then had to be poured out and placed in the sun, so it would evaporate. Some tribes added juice extracted from the muramu root. The poison had to brew for one day, then it was stored in a shady place. Pharmacists store medications that contain curare poison in safes, in special metal boxes, which must be marked “Poison.”
Application of different types of curare
1. Tube or tubo-curare, it used to be placed in special bamboo tubes, then the arrows were lubricated. This is one of the strongest medicines, its alkaloid is tubarin, the hydrochloride is actively used by surgeons, it can be used to relax muscles.
2. Potted curare, where concentrated poison is placed in a clay pot, then used for hunting.
3. Pumpkin curare, it is called so because it is stored in pumpkin, it is one of the strongest and most dangerous poisons. It is used for hunting.
How does curare poison affect the human body?
First, it paralyzes the nerves that are responsible for the motor function of the respiratory muscles, so the person first suffocates and then dies. In cases of a small dosage of poison, the victim can be saved using artificial respiration, because the poison begins to be excreted by the kidneys. But pay attention, you can get poisoned by curare if you scratch your skin a little. When a person dies, his liver becomes very inflamed and his skin turns blue. For a poison to have a toxic effect on a person, it must enter the bloodstream.
Beneficial properties of curare
The plant contains alkaloids and other substances that have medicinal properties; with its help, you can disrupt the functionality of nerve impulses that are responsible for muscle function.
Application of curare
Due to the components of the plant, it is possible to carry out quite serious operations - heart surgery, operations on the respiratory tract, with the help of curare you can relax the muscular system and stop breathing.
Also, with the help of curare, nervous diseases are treated, muscle spasms are relieved, and used for treatment.
In Russia, this type of plant is practically not used, it does not grow on its territory, all preparations based on curare can be purchased abroad.
Contraindications for curare
Remember that the plant is one of the strongest poisons, so it is forbidden to use it in self-treatment. Curare can only be used by highly qualified specialists. The plant is very difficult to obtain because it is illegal. Curare should not be used for people who have problems with the kidney and liver systems, who also suffer.
You can become poisoned too quickly, first the muscles weaken, then you become very dizzy and shortness of breath occurs. After a person dies, it forms on his skin. What antidote exists for curare? Inhibitors will help save the victim.
Thus, despite the fact that the plant contains useful substances, curare is a very dangerous poison that leads to death.
