Semen Strychni (SS)

Semen Strychni (SS)

• the dried seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica L. (Loganiaceae), is bitter and warm and, according to the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) theory, belongs to the liver and spleen meridians (1,2)
  • dry mature seeds are disc-shaped, slightly concave, and hard
  • SS was first recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica in Ming Dynasty and is now collected by the Chinese pharmacopeia
    
    
• SS can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, facial nerve paralysis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Myasthenia Gravis (MG) (1,2)
  • the main toxic component of SS is strychnine
  • alkaloids have been found to be the main active ingredient in SS, which includes strychnine, brucine and other nitrogen oxides

Reference:

1. Fang P et al. Study on the Potential Mechanism of Semen Strychni against Myasthenia Gravis Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking with Experimental Verification. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Oct 1;2022:3056802.
2. Tang X et al. Exploring the mechanism of Semen Strychni in treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis based on network pharmacology. Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Sep 8;102(36):e35101.