Honour programme directed lecture

Question 1

nicotine

Answer 1

highly toxic, activates nAChR in autonomic ganglia
lower doses bypass liver to produce pleasurable effects on the CNS
effective insecticide

Question 2

Laburnum

Answer 2

-golden rain
v v toxic
contains cytisine which potent agonist at ganglionic nAChR and CNS

causes tachycardia, convulsions, diarrhoea, coma

Question 3

Curare Alkaloids

Answer 3

potent antagonist at muscle nAChR
from s. toxifera plant
-interrupts neuromuscular transmission
results in flaccid paralysis, respiraoty paraylsis, death

Question 4

Tropane alkaloids

Answer 4

Deadly nightshade and jimson weed
produce atropine, hyoscine, hyoscamine
-'parasympatholytics'
in high doses:
increase heart rate
pupils dilate
dry mouth
blurred vision

hallucinations
memory loss
balance problems
convulsions