hyoscyamine
UK /ˌhʌɪ.ə(ʊ)ˈsʌɪ.ə.miːn/ · US /ˌhaɪ.əˈsaɪ.əˌmin/ noun
- noun (biochemistry, pharmacology) A poisonous alkaloid present in henbane that is the stereoisomer of atropine, with similar properties to hyoscine, and used medicinally to treat abdominal pain and similar conditions.
Etymology
From Latin hyoscyamus (“henbane”) + English -ine.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An alkaloid found in henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), and regarded as its active principle. It is also found with other alkaloids in the thorn apple and deadly nightshade. It is extracted as a white crystalline substance, with a sharp, offensive taste. Hyoscyamine is isomeric with atropine, is very poisonous, and is used as a medicine for neuralgia, like belladonna. Called also hyoscyamia, duboisine, etc.
Etymology [See Hyoscyamus.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “hyoscyamine”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details