The strychnine tree (Strychnos nux-vomica) certainly doesn’t look deadly – medium-sized, growing up to 20 metres (66 feet), with a short and thick trunk and small pale-green flowers. It’s an evergreen tree native to southeast Asia, especially India and Myanmar. But inside of its fruits hides one of nature’s deadliest poisons.
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How poisonous is the strychnine tree?
The toxin, strychnine, can be found in the seeds contained within the large, apple-like fruit of the tree. It’s only a trace amount – the seeds contain approx. 1.5 per cent strychnine, and the dried blossoms 1 per cent. It’s still strongly advised against to take a bite of said fruit.
Strychnine interacts with chemical receptors that control movement – specifically the neurotransmitters that tell muscles to ‘go’ or ‘stop’, preventing them from spasming. Strychnine basically blocks the stop signals. An overdose of the toxin usually starts with twitching but ends in whole body convulsions, victims arching upwards with their arms clenched on their sides. Eventually, the muscles controlling breathing fail, resulting in death through asphyxia.
During the whole process, the victim is painfully and horribly aware – the nerves in the brain are also stimulated, heightening perception. It’s been described as an “agonising way to die.”
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And strychnine isn’t the only poison this tree has to offer – its bark also contains brucine, ingestion of which can lead to similar symptoms, including muscle spasms, convulsions and acute kidney injury.
Strychnine is perhaps the mystery writer’s favourite poison – it has been widely depicted in popular culture over the years. In Agatha Christie’s debut novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, the plot hinges on a chemical reaction involving strychnine. In simple terms, strychnine combined with other chemicals results in the poison crystalising out and covering the bottom of the bottle over time. And so, the final dose ends up being lethal.
Strychnine was also featured in Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel The Sign of Four, Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho, and more recently Stephen King’s novel Mr. Mercedes.
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Top image: Strychnine tree with toxic fruits. Credit: fotofritz16/Getty Images
