THE PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION OF THE ALKALOIDS OF FUMARACEOUS PLANTS I. ISOCORYDINE

¹ Department of Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada

The pharmacological action of isocorydine, an alkaloid obtained from Dicentra canadensis has been studied on frogs, mice, rabbits, cats and dogs. It was found that the action of this drug is very similar to that of bulbocapnine. Its effects vary with the strength of the dose and the position of the animal in the phylogenetic scale. In frogs and mice small doses produce minor effects while large doses result in convulsions. In cats and dogs moderate doses produce catalepsy while larger amounts result in a hyperkinetic state.