How are Strychnos plants used in arrow poisons and drugs?

Plants of the genus Strychnos, which belong to the family Loganiaceae within the order Gentianales, are significant sources of potent alkaloids used in both traditional poisons and modern medicine.12

Arrow Poisons

Certain Strychnos species, such as Strychnos toxifera, are used to prepare curare, a resinous substance historically employed by Indigenous peoples in South America as an arrow poison for hunting. Curare acts as a neuromuscular blocking agent, causing skeletal muscle relaxation and, in fatal doses, respiratory paralysis.32

Medicinal and Other Uses

• Strychnine: Obtained primarily from the seeds of the nux vomica tree (S. nux-vomica), strychnine is a highly toxic alkaloid. While it has been used in rodent poisons, it has also been utilized in small doses in veterinary practice as a stimulant. It functions by increasing reflex irritability in the spinal cord.42
• Central Nervous System and Heart: Some Strychnos alkaloids are used in drugs designed to stimulate the central nervous system and the heart.1