Chondrodendron tomentosum is a plant in Central and South America from which the arrow poison curare is prepared. Many other plants can also produce similar alkaloids.
Plants from which curare-like alkaloids may be extracted:
(1) Chondrodendron species
(2) other genera of Menispermaceae
(3) Loganiaceae/Strychnaceae: Strychnos toxifera
The compound used primarily in medicine is D-tubocurarine, but the plants contain other alkaloids with similar activity but different potency.
The curare alkaloids result in:
(1) inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction
(2) muscle paralysis with weakness
(3) in high doses paralysis of the diaphragm with asphyxiation
Cholinesterase inhibitors (neostigmine, edrophonium, others) can reverse the muscle paralysis.
