Definition

A colorless, crystalline substance derived from certain plants, particularly wormwood, that is used to kill parasites in the body.

Example

The doctor prescribed santonin to treat the patient's intestinal worms.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of santonin?

Yeah, I think it's a compound found in wormwood, right?

Exactly! It's used as an anthelmintic for treating worms.

That's interesting! I had no idea it was toxic too.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Santonin is derived from the French word 'santonine', which comes from 'santoninus', a term used in Latin to refer to a type of plant, specifically the wormwood plant (Artemisia absinthium). The word is related to 'santon', which refers to a type of resin or extract from the plant. Thus, santonin refers to a compound derived from this plant, historically used for its medicinal properties, particularly as an anthelmintic.

Memory Tip

Think of 'santon' as a reference to a plant extract, and remember that 'santonin' is a compound derived from that plant, often used for its medicinal benefits.

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