helleborin

[ he-leb-uh-rin, hel-uh-bawr-in, -bohr- ]

noun

1. a colorless, crystalline, water-insoluble, poisonous solid, C 28 H 36 O 6 , obtained from the rhizome and root of certain hellebores, and used in medicine chiefly as a purgative.

Word History and Origins

Origin of helleborin¹

First recorded in 1870–75; hellebore + -in ²

Example Sentences

H. niger, orientalis, viridis, foetidus, and several other species of hellebore contain the glucosides helleborin, C36H42O6, and hellebore�n, C23H20O15, the former yielding glucose and helleboresin, C30H38O4, and the latter glucose and a violet-coloured substance helleboretin, C14H20O3.

From Project Gutenberg

Helleborin is most abundant in H. viridis.

From Project Gutenberg

Both helleborin and hellebore�n act poisonously on animals, but their decomposition-products helleboresin and helleboretin seem to be devoid of any injurious qualities.

From Project Gutenberg

Helleborin produces excitement and restlessness, followed by paralysis of the lower extremities or whole body, quickened respiration, swelling and injection of the mucous membranes, dilatation of the pupil, and, as with hellebore�n, salivation, vomiting and diarrhoea.

From Project Gutenberg

This root contains a chemical glucoside—"helleborin," which, if given in full doses, stimulates the kidneys to such an excess that their function becomes temporarily paralyzed.

From Project Gutenberg