Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,807,304,958 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

nux vomica
(redirected from Nyassa)

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
nux vomica (nŭks vŏm`əkə), bitter-tasting drug obtained from the poisonous seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica, a tree that grows in Sri Lanka, India, and N Australia. The dried seeds contain strychnine strychnine (strĭk`nĭn), bitter alkaloid drug derived from the seeds of a tree, Strychnos nux-vomica,
..... Click the link for more information.
 and brucine, both colorless crystalline alkaloids, as well as sugar, acid, and oil. In the past nux vomica was used as a tonic in the form of a tincture, or alcoholic solution, but it is not used in modern medicine. In minute quantities it has a powerful peristaltic action on the intestines and in larger doses causes convulsions and death.
nux vomica
a medicine manufactured from the seeds of this tree, formerly used as a heart stimulant

nux vomica
1. an Indian spiny loganiaceous tree, Strychnos nux-vomica, with orange-red berries containing poisonous seeds
2. any of the seeds of this tree, which contain strychnine and other poisonous alkaloids Nyasa, Nyassa
Lake. a lake in central Africa at the S end of the Great Rift Valley: the third largest lake in Africa, drained by the Shire River into the Zambezi. Area: about 28 500 sq. km (11 000 sq. miles)

nux vomica [′nəks ′väm·ə·kə]
(botany)
The seed ofStrychnos nux-vomica, an Indian tree of the family Loganiaceae; contains the alkaloid strychnine, and was formerly used in medicine.


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
? Mentioned in
 
Encyclopedia browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Encyclopedia
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.