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physostigma

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phy·so·stig·ma

(fī'sō-stig'mă),
The dried seed of Physostigma venenosum (family Leguminosae), a vine of western Africa; it contains the alkaloids physostigmine (eserine), eseramine, eseridine (geneserine) and physovenine; at toxic doses, it causes vomiting, colic, salivation, diarrhea, convulsions, sweating, dyspnea, vertigo, slow pulse, and extreme prostration.
Synonym(s): Calabar bean, ordeal bean
[G. physa, bellows, + stigma, a mark, spot; so called because of the shape of the stigma]
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Several other members are Melilotus, Copaiva, Physostigma, Lathyrus, Indigo, Chrysarobin urn, Trifolium repens, Robinia, and Mimosa pudica.
Healing with homeopathy: homeopathy for night sweats
Physostigma venenosum was used traditionally in Africa as a ritual poison, claimed to determine the guilt or innocence of person accused of a crime.
Along with the prototype inhibitor of AChE physostigmine, obtained from the plant Physostigma venenosum, other molecules with highly significant anti-cholinesterase activity are huper-zine-A, galantamine, [alpha]-viniferin and ursolic acid obtained from Huperzia serrata, Galanthus nivalis and Narcissus sp., Caragana chamlague and Origanum majorana, respectively.
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from plants
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