What is Strychnine?
{{Chembox new |ImageFile=Strychnine2.svg |ImageSize=200px |ImageFile1=Strychnine-from-xtal-3D-balls.png |IUPACName= |OtherNames=Strychnidin-10-one |Section1= {{Chembox Identifiers | CASNo=57-24-9 | PubChem=441071 | SMILES=[H][C@]([C@@](C(C=CC=C7)<br />=C7N34)5[C@H]6N(CC5)C2)3<br />[C@@]1([H])[C@@H](C6)[C@]<br />2=CCO[C@H]1CC4=O }} |Section2= {{Chembox Properties | Formula=C<sub>21</sub>H<sub>22</sub>N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> | MolarMass=334.41 | Appearance= | Density= | MeltingPt=284-286&nbsp;°C | BoilingPt= | Solubility= }} |Section3= {{Chembox Hazards | MainHazards= | FlashPt= | Autoignition= }} }} '''Strychnine''' is a [[poison]]ous substance which is naturally produced by the plant ''Strychnos nux-vomica''. Together with [[brucine]], another poison, strychnine is found in the leaves and seeds of this plant. They are a rather extreme example of the way some plants [[Defence against herbivory|protect themselves against herbivores]]. The substances were discovered early in the 19th century, but it took about 150 years before [[Robert Robinson]] worked out their structure.<ref>Todd L. & Cornforth J.W. 1976. Robert Robinson. 13 September 1886 {{ndash}} 8 February 1975. ''Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society'' '''22''': 414. [http://rsbm.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/22/414]</ref> When purified, strychnine is a very [[toxic]] colorless [[crystal]]line [[alkaloid]]. It is very poisonous, the [[LD50|LD<sub>50</sub>]] is about 10&nbsp;mg. Strychnine is soluble in [[alcohol]] and [[chloroform]], but not in [[water]]. Strychnine has few uses today. It can act as a [[stimulant]], much like [[caffeine]], and is on the list of substances tested for [[doping in sport]]s.<ref>Michael S. Bahrke and Charles Yesalis 2002. ''Performance-enhancing substances in sport and exercise''. Human Kinetics. {{ISBN|0-7360-3679-2}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=nPJaTdp47mcC&pg=PA3&dq=strychnine+stimulant+sport&sig=IT3Yoh4vmV6sSI8TdBelcTIxep8 Google Books]</ref> It was used as a [[pesticid