hyoscyamine

noun

hy·​o·​scy·​a·​mine ˌhī-ə-ˈsī-ə-ˌmēn How to pronounce hyoscyamine (audio)
: a poisonous crystalline alkaloid C17H23NO3 of which atropine is a racemic mixture
especially : its levorotatory form found especially in the plants belladonna and henbane and used similarly to atropine

Examples of hyoscyamine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These drugs include hyoscyamine and dicyclomine. Natalie Rizzo, SELF, 4 Feb. 2022 More recently, Huang and other researchers found the biosynthetic pathway of the drug hyoscyamine, another tropane alkaloid with psychoactive effects. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2023 There have been 34 alkaloids discovered in henbane, including scopolamine, hyoscyamine and atropine. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2022 In addition to the hyoscyamine, other medications used include: atropine eyedrops under the tongue; the antidepressant amitriptyline; and glycopyrrolate. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 3 Dec. 2021 Indeed, while solitarious locusts avoid eating toxic plants, the gregarious locusts are actually attracted to the odor of hyoscyamine, a toxic alkaloid found in local plants. Matt Simon, Wired, 5 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

German Hyoscyamin, from New Latin Hyoscyamus, genus of herbs, from Latin, henbane, from Greek hyoskyamos, literally, swine's bean, from hyos (genitive of hys swine) + kyamos bean — more at sow

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hyoscyamine was in 1858

Dictionary Entries Near hyoscyamine

Cite this Entry

“Hyoscyamine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyoscyamine. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

hyoscyamine

noun
hyo·​scy·​a·​mine ˌhī-ə-ˈsī-ə-mēn How to pronounce hyoscyamine (audio)
: a poisonous crystalline alkaloid C17H23NO3 of which atropine is a racemic mixture
especially : its levorotatory form found especially in the plants belladonna and henbane and used similarly to atropine

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