A genus of tropical shrubs or trees (family Loganiaceae); most South American species contain chiefly quaternary neuromuscular blocking alkaloids, e.g., curare; the African, Asiatic, and Australian species contain tertiary strychnine-like alkaloids ( e.g., strychnine, brucine, and yohimbine-type alkaloids). [G. nightshade]
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Strych·nos 'strīk-nəs, -.näs n a large genus of tropical trees and woody vines (family Loganiaceae) see CURARE, NUX VOMICA, STRYCHNINE
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Strych·nos (strikґnos) [Gr. “nightshadeâ€] a genus of tropical trees of the family Loganiaceae whose seeds contain strychnine and other toxic alkaloids. S. nux-voґmica L. has seeds called nux vomica. S. ignaґtii has seeds called St. Ignatius beans. See strychnine poisoning, under poisoning.Medical dictionary. 2011.