calabar bean

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Definitions from WordNet

Noun calabar bean has 1 sense

calabar bean, ordeal bean - dark brown highly poisonous seed of the calabar-bean vine; source of physostigmine and used in native witchcraft
--₁ is a kind of bean
--₁ is a part of calabar-bean vine, Physostigma venenosum

Definitions from the Web

Calabar Bean

Definition:

The Calabar bean is a seed derived from a West African plant known as Physostigma venenosum. It contains toxic compounds that have medical applications as a powerful poison and a therapeutic agent.

Usage:

There are two main senses of the term "calabar bean":

1. Poison:

In this sense, the calabar bean refers to a deadly poisonous substance derived from the seeds of the Physostigma venenosum plant. It contains physostigmine, a potent toxin affecting the central nervous system.

Example sentences:

The use of the calabar bean as a poison dates back centuries in African history.
Extreme caution must be exercised when handling calabar beans due to their high toxicity.

2. Medicinal Use:

The calabar bean is also used medicinally due to the presence of physostigmine, which acts as a cholinergic agent, affecting the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the body. It is used to treat certain medical conditions, especially those affecting the eye.

Example sentences:

Physicians prescribe medicine derived from the calabar bean to treat glaucoma.
The therapeutic properties of calabar beans make them valuable in ophthalmology.

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