Cephaeline

/ˈsɛfəlɪn/ noun

Definition

An alkaloid compound derived from the ipecac plant (Cephaelis), historically used as an emetic or to induce vomiting for medical purposes.

Etymology

From Cephaelis, the genus name of the ipecac plant, with the chemical suffix -ine indicating an alkaloid. Named directly after the plant source from which the compound was originally extracted.

Kelly Says

Cephaeline is one of those old-timey medicines people forced down sick people's throats—it came from rainforest plants in Brazil and was so popular Victorian doctors prescribed it for everything from food poisoning to amoebic dysentery, but it was basically organized vomiting!

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