Lexic.us

Definition of Curare

1. Noun. A toxic alkaloid found in certain tropical South American trees that is a powerful relaxant for striated muscles. "Curare acts by blocking cholinergic transmission at the myoneural junction"

Definition of Curare

1. n. A black resinoid extract prepared by the South American Indians from the bark of several species of Strychnos (S. toxifera, etc.). It sometimes has little effect when taken internally, but is quickly fatal when introduced into the blood, and used by the Indians as an arrow poison.

Definition of Curare

1. Noun. A substance containing the alkaloid D-tubocurarine, used historically as a muscle relaxant during surgery. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Curare

1. an arrow poison [n -S]

Medical Definition of Curare

1. Curare alkaloids are the active ingredients of arrow poisons used by South American Indians. Alkaloids that have muscle relaxant properties because they block motor end plate transmission, acting as competitive antagonists for acetylcholine. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Curare

Other Resources: