curare

curare /cu·ra·re/ (koo-rah´re) any of a wide variety of highly toxic extracts from various botanical sources, used originally as arrow poisons in South America. An extract of the shrub Chondodendron tomentosum has been used as a skeletal muscle relaxant.

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cu·ra·re or cu·ra·ri (k-rär, ky-)

n.

1. An extract obtained from several tropical American woody plants, especially Chondrodendron tomentosum, used as an arrow poison by some Indian peoples of South America.

2. A purified preparation or alkaloid obtained from Chondrodendron tomentosum, used to relax skeletal muscles.

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curare

[kyoo͡rä′rē]

Etymology: S. Am. Indian, ourari

a substance derived from tropical plants of the genus Strychnos. It is a potent neuromuscular blocker that acts by preventing transmission of neural impulses across the myoneural junctions. A large dose can cause complete paralysis, but action is usually reversible with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (cholinergic agonists). Pharmacologic preparations of the substance are used as adjuncts to general anesthesia. The use of curare or other neuromuscular blocking agents requires respiratory and ventilatory assistance by a qualified anesthetist or anesthesiologist. Also called tubocurarine chloride.

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curare

any of a wide variety of highly toxic extracts from various botanical sources, including species of Strychnos, a genus of tropical trees; used originally as arrow poisons in South America. A form extracted from the shrub, Chondrodendron tomentosum, has been used as skeletal muscle relaxant. The active principle is d-tubocurarine.

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curare

Anesthesiology A neuromuscular-blocking alkaloid used as an adjuvant in surgical anesthesia for skeletal muscle relaxation and to prevent trauma in electroconvulsive therapy