Toxiferine (C-toxiferine I) is a
curaretoxin. It is a bisindole alkaloid derived from Strychnos toxifera and a
nicotinic acetylcholine receptorantagonist. This alkaloid is the main toxic component of
Calabash curare, and one of the most toxic plant alkaloids known. The lethal dose (LD50) for mice has been determined as 10 - 60 µg/kg by
intravenous administration.[1]
It is a
muscle relaxant that causes
paralysis of
skeletal muscle, which takes approximately 2 hours to recovery for a moderate dose, and 8 hours of total paralysis with a 20-fold paralytic dose. The paralysis can be antagonized by
neostigmine[2]
^Saxton JE, Gorman AA, Hesse M, Schmid H, Waser PG, Hopff WH (1971). "Bisindole alkaloids". In Saxton JE (ed.). The Alkaloids: v. 1: A Review of Chemical Literature. Specialist Periodical Reports. Cambridge, Eng: Royal Society of Chemistry. p.
330.
ISBN0-85186-257-8.