ouabain
noun
oua·bain wä-ˈbā-ən 
ˈwä-ˌbān
ˈwä-ˌbān : a poisonous glycoside C29H44O12 obtained from several African shrubs or trees (genera Strophanthus and Acokanthera) of the dogbane family and used medically like digitalis and in Africa as an arrow poison
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web But the arrow’s tip has a secret weapon: the deadly poison ouabain. 
Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 11 May 2018 At such a dose, ouabain can cause twitching, convulsions, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and eventually cardiac arrest. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 21 Jan. 2018 The ouabain derivative didn’t have any toxic effects, and the rat produced normal levels of sperm. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 21 Jan. 2018 But ouabain also affects another type of transporter subunit called α4, which is found only in sperm cells. Smithsonian, 31 Jan. 2018 Our results are promising because our candidate molecule, unlike ouabain, is nontoxic in rats. Smithsonian, 31 Jan. 2018
Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 11 May 2018 At such a dose, ouabain can cause twitching, convulsions, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and eventually cardiac arrest. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 21 Jan. 2018 The ouabain derivative didn’t have any toxic effects, and the rat produced normal levels of sperm. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 21 Jan. 2018 But ouabain also affects another type of transporter subunit called α4, which is found only in sperm cells. Smithsonian, 31 Jan. 2018 Our results are promising because our candidate molecule, unlike ouabain, is nontoxic in rats. Smithsonian, 31 Jan. 2018 Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary, from French ouabaïo, an African tree, from Somali waabayyo arrow poison
First Known Use
1888, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
ouabain
noun
oua·bain wä-ˈbā-ən ˈwä-ˌbān
ˈwä-ˌbān : a poisonous glycoside C29H44O12 obtained from several African shrubs or trees of the dogbane family and used medically like digitalis and in Africa as an arrow poison