What is "tubocurarine"

n. (context biochemistry English) A benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, obtained from curare and sometimes used to paralyse patients undergoing anaesthesia.

n. a toxic alkaloid found in certain tropical South American trees that is a powerful relaxant for striated muscles; used by South American indians as an arrow poison; "curare acts by blocking cholinergic transmission at the myoneural junction" [syn: curare]