Cocculus Indicus

Cocculus Indicus, the dried berry-like fruit of the climbing menispermaceous plant Anamirta Cocculus, a native of the East Indies. The seeds contain from one to four per cent. of the acrid irritant poison picrotoxin (C₁₂H₁₄O₅), and are used as a black extract in India in some skin diseases and to destroy vermin. Though now discarded from our Pharmacopoeia, they are imported to the extent of 50,000 lbs. annually at a price of from seven to nine shillings per cwt., mainly for reexportation. This substance has been used to poison fish, and is popularly, but probably erroneously, thought to be an adulterant of porter.