Anagyris
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Anagyris is a Mediterranean shrub belonging to the bean family (Papilionaceae), known for containing toxic alkaloids in its seeds. The 1930s encyclopedia article describes its active compounds, cytisine and anagyrine, noting their convulsive and curare-like paralyzing effects.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
ANAGYRIS, Anagyris foetida L., family of legumes (Papilionaceae), a shrub growing along the Mediterranean coast. From the seeds of Anagyris, cytisine—a convulsive poison—and anagyrine, with a curare-like action, have been isolated; death from anagyrine ensues as a result of respiratory paralysis, while the heart is not affected. The leaves of Anagyris are used in folk medicine as a laxative.
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Cite this page
“Anagyris.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/anagyris/