Also spartein. [f. mod.L. Spartium broom: see -INE5. Named by Stenhouse (1851).] An alkaloid obtained from common broom, used to some extent in medicine.
1851. J. Stenhouse, in Chem. Gaz., IX. 117. Sparteine appears to be a strong narcotic poison, though much inferior in this respect to either nicotine or coneine.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 483. Spartein paralyzes the motor nerves.
1898. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 991. Sparteine has no notable advantage over the broom tea … which contains it.
