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Curare, Chondrodendron tomentosum
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Curare, Chondrodendron tomentosum
Curare, Parreira brava or abutua, Chondrodendron tomentosum. Handcoloured lithograph by Hanhart after a botanical illustration by David Blair from Robert Bentley and Henry Trimens Medicinal Plants, London, 1880
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Media ID 23153140
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Apothecary Arrow Bentley Blair Brava Hanhart Herbal Medicinal Poison Trimen
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Curare, Chondrodendron tomentosum, also known as Parreira brava, Abutua, or simply Curare, is a highly toxic vine native to the Amazon rainforest. This handcoloured lithograph by Hanhart, after a botanical illustration by David Blair, was published in Robert Bentley and Henry Trimen's "Medicinal Plants" in 1880. The image showcases the vine's intricate details, with its velvety, golden-brown bark and small, green leaves. Curare has a long and complex history. Indigenous peoples of the Amazon have used the vine for centuries to tip their arrowheads, creating a powerful and deadly poison for hunting. The active ingredient, curare alkaloids, blocks the transmission of nerve impulses, causing paralysis and eventual death. European explorers and scientists were fascinated by the vine's properties and began to study it in the late 1800s. The discovery of curare led to significant advancements in the field of medicine, particularly in the understanding of the nervous system. Tubocurarine, an extract of Curare, was the first curare alkaloid to be isolated and used as a muscle relaxant in anesthesia. Despite its deadly reputation, Curare also holds medicinal value. It has been used to treat conditions such as myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disorder, and in the treatment of snake bites. The vine's complex chemistry continues to be studied, and new potential applications are being explored. This beautiful and intricately detailed lithograph serves as a reminder of the fascinating and often complex relationship between plants, people, and medicine.
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