What is the Difference Between Brucine and Strychnine?

Brucine and strychnine are two types of alkaloids that are closely related and have some toxicity. They are both found in the Strychnos nux-vomica tree. The key difference between brucine and strychnine is that brucine is less toxic than strychnine.

The chemical structures of brucine and strychnine are similar, with the only difference being the presence of methoxy groups at the 9- and 10-positions of the aromatic ring in brucine, instead of hydrogen atoms in strychnine. This small difference leads to detectable changes in their NMR spectra.

Both compounds have pharmacological effects on neurotransmitter receptors, acting as antagonists at glycine receptors and paralyzing inhibitory neurons. Strychnine poisoning can be fatal, while brucine poisoning is rare and usually occurs when ingested with strychnine. The probable fatal dose of brucine in adults is 1 gram.

Comparative Table: Brucine vs Strychnine

Here is a table summarizing the differences between brucine and strychnine:

Brucine and strychnine are both alkaloids found in the tree Strychnos nux-vomica. The key difference between the two is that brucine is less toxic than strychnine. Brucine is a weak alkaline indole alkaloid, while strychnine is a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid. Both compounds can be separated and purified from the tree using pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography.