El término curare se aplica genéricamente a diversos venenos de flechas de América del Sur. Dichos extractos se hacen con numerosas plantas diferentes, especialmente miembros de las Menispermaceae y Loganiaceae. A éstas puede añadirse al Anomospermum grandiflora. Es una sustancia pastosa de color parda que abunda en la cuenca del Amazonas. Esta sustancia era ya utilizada por pueblos indígenas de América del Sur, África, Asia y Oceanía untando las puntas de flechas y dardos para cerbatanas con los que emponzoñar a sus presas, para inmovilizarlas.[cita requerida]

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Curare /kʊˈrɑːri/ or /kjʊˈrɑːri/ is a common name for various plant extract alkaloid arrow poisons originating from Central and South America. These poisons function by competitively and reversibly inhibiting the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), which is a subtype of acetylcholine receptor found at the neuromuscular junction. This causes weakness of the skeletal muscles and, when administered in a sufficient dose, eventual death by asphyxiation due to paralysis of the diaphragm. According to pharmacologist Rudolf Boehm's 1895 classification scheme, the three main types of curare are: \n* tube or bamboo curare (so named because of its packing into hollow bamboo tubes; main toxin is D-tubocurarine). \n* pot curare (originally packed in terra cotta pots; main alkaloid components are protocurarine, protocurine, and protocuridine). Protocurarine is the active ingredient; protocurine is only weakly toxic, and protocuridine is not toxic. \n* calabash or gourd curare (originally packed into hollow gourds; main toxin is curarine). Of these three types, some formulas belonging to the tube curare are the most toxic, relative to their LD50 values.

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