Anamirtin

/ænəˈmɪərtɪn/ noun

Definition

A toxic alkaloid compound extracted from plants of the anamirta genus.

Etymology

From anamirta + -in suffix (indicating a chemical compound or alkaloid). The -in ending is used in chemistry to name alkaloids and organic compounds discovered in plants. Developed as chemical nomenclature expanded in the 1800s.

Kelly Says

Anamirtin is one of many plant-derived poisons that helped establish the field of toxicology and pharmacology—scientists realized that studying how plants poison animals taught them how medicines could be discovered.

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