Picrotoxin

Picrotoxin, also known as cocculin, is a poisonous crystalline plant alkaloid, first isolated by Boullay in 1812.

Found primarily in Cocculus indicus and Anamirta cocculus, it has a strong physiological action. It acts as a non-competitive antagonist of GABA A receptors. As GABA itself is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, infusion of picrotoxin has a stimulative effect.

Chemical structure
Picrotoxin (C30H34O13) consists of two substances, picrotoxinin (C15H1606) and picrotin (C15H1807).