muscarine

[ muhs-ker-in, -kuh-reen ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a poisonous compound, C 8 H 1 9 NO 3 , found in certain mushrooms, especially fly agaric, and in decaying fish.

muscarine

/ -ˌriːn; ˈmʌskərɪn /

noun

1. a poisonous alkaloid occurring in certain mushrooms. Formula: C 9 H 21 NO 3

muscarine

/ mŭs′kə-rēn′ /

1. A highly toxic, hallucinogenic alkaloid related to the cholines, derived from the red form of the mushroom Amanita muscaria and other mushrooms and found in decaying animal tissue. Chemical formula: C 9 H 20 NO 2 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of muscarine¹

1870–75; < Latin muscār ( ius ) of flies ( musc ( a ) fly + -ārius -ary ) + -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of muscarine¹

C19: from Latin muscārius of flies, from musca fly

Example Sentences

Muscarine is a mimic of the neurotransmitting brain chemical acetylcholine, which helps translate electrical impulses into muscle action, among other roles.

From Scientific American

Another chemical that makes mushrooms poisonous – muscarine – is often made in the same mushrooms that make psilocybin in the genus Inocybe, which suggests It has a similar purpose.

From Scientific American

In having this effect, the organic-phosphate compounds resemble the alkaloid poison muscarine, found in a poisonous mushroom, the fly amanita.

From The New Yorker

In this effect, the organic phosphorus compounds resemble the alkaloid poison muscarine, found in a poisonous mushroom, the fly amanita.

From Literature

Choline and muscarine occur in certain toadstools.

From Project Gutenberg