nux vomica (redirected from Nyassa)

nux vom·i·ca  (nks vm-k)

n.

A tree (Strychnos nux-vomica) native to southeast Asia, having poisonous seeds that are the source of the medicinal alkaloids strychnine and brucine.

---

[Medieval Latin : Latin nux, nut + Medieval Latin vomica, feminine of vomicus, emetic (from Latin vomere, to vomit; see wem- in Indo-European roots).]

---

nux vomica [ˈnʌks ˈvɒmɪkə]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) an Indian spiny loganiaceous tree, Strychnos nux-vomica, with orange-red berries containing poisonous seeds

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of the seeds of this tree, which contain strychnine and other poisonous alkaloids

3. (Medicine / Pharmacology) a medicine manufactured from the seeds of this tree, formerly used as a heart stimulant

[from Medieval Latin: vomiting nut]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

nux vomica - a medicine made from the seeds of an Asiatic tree; contains strychnine and brucine; formerly used as a stimulant medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine - (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease strychnine - an alkaloid plant toxin extracted chiefly from nux vomica; formerly used as a stimulant brucine - a bitter alkaloid poison resembling strychnine and extracted from nux vomica