Canadine

/ˈkænədaɪn/ noun

Definition

An alkaloid compound found in certain plants, particularly goldenseal and related species.

Etymology

From 'Canada' (where goldenseal is native) plus the chemical suffix '-ine.' Named for the geographic origin of the plant from which the alkaloid was first isolated in the 19th century.

Kelly Says

Canadine is just one of dozens of plant alkaloids named after the places they come from—it's a quirk of chemistry that you can travel the world just reading compound names, and many don't actually exist in those places anymore due to overharvesting!

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