Experiments with banana trunk juice as a neuromuscular blocker.
The juice of the banana trunk produces a non-depolarising neuromuscular block. Oxygenation of the extract enhances its potency. Reversals with anticholinesterases are transient. Partial reversals in isolated preparations indicate these could be both specific and non-specific binding which could account for blockade after washing. It could be specifically bound to ACh receptors in an irreversible way since its action appears similar to that of alpha-BuTX.
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002415:Cats; D005638:Fruit; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002038:Bungarotoxins; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000109:Acetylcholine