1. a poisonous crystalline compound obtained from the seeds of certain plants, used as a stimulant in experimental medicine and research
Usage: technical; pharmacology

Examples

• The researcher administered picrotoxin to study its effects on neural activity.
• Picrotoxin is extracted from the seeds of Anamirta cocculus.
• The laboratory used picrotoxin as a convulsant agent in the experiment.
• Scientists studied how picrotoxin blocks certain neurotransmitter receptors.
• The toxic effects of picrotoxin were carefully monitored during the study.