Curare

Literature References: Rendering of an Indian name given to the unstandardized extracts derived mainly from the bark of various spp. of Strychnos and Chondodendron, prepared for use as arrow poisons by Indians in the Amazon and Orinoco valleys, and in the Guianas; the physiologically active principle of which is (+)-tubocurarine chloride, q.v. Three kinds of curare have appeared in commerce, distinguished by the kind of containers in which they were packed: Tube cucare or bamboo curare, pot curare, and gourd curare or calabash curare. Listing of members of the family Menispermaceae, botanical components of tube or bamboo curare and of pot curare: Krukoff, Moldenke, Studies of American Menispermaceae, with special reference to species used in the preparation of arrow poisons in Brittonia 3, 1-74 (1938), also suppl. no. 1-5. (Note that the curare available for medical use under the name Intocostrin is a physiologically standardized extract from Chondodendron tomentosum R. & P., Menispermaceae). Listing of Strychnos spp. Loganiaceae, botanical components of calabash curare and of pot curare: Krukoff, Monachino, The American Species of Strychnos in Brittonia 4, 248-322 (1942), also suppl. no. 1-6. Alkaloids from calabash curare and bark of Strychnos spp.: P. Karrer, J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 8, 161-164 (1956); Schmid, Karrer, Helv. Chim. Acta 29, 1853 (1946); 30, 1162 (1947); Marino-Bettolo, Festschrift Arthur Stoll (Birkhäuser-Verlag, Basel 1957) pp 257-280. Review of history, chemistry, and use of arrow-poison curare: McIntyre, Curare (Chicago, 1947); Bovet et al., Curare and Curare-like Agents (Van Nostrand, Princeton, 1959).