emetine

1. (biochemistry, pharmacology) A white crystalline bitter alkaloid, chemical formula C₂₉H₄₀N₂O₄, extracted from ipecacuanha root, and formerly used in the treatment of amebic infections and as an emetic in aversion therapy.Examples: "During a 10-year period the sanitarium treated 2,323 patients (93% were men) by the emetine method."; "Magendie performed experiments on emetics and the nature of vomiting, and showed that the emetic properties of ipecacuanha were due to a substance he named emetine."; "After a 3-hour incubation with ALLN [acetylleucyl-leucyl-norleucinal], cells were incubated with emetine in the presence (closed symbols) or absence (open symbols) of ALLN (10 µg/ml)."