Saxitoxin

**Semantic type:** Hazardous or Poisonous Substance

**Definition:** A carbamate alkaloid neurotoxin isolated from marine dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria that inhibits nerve conduction by blocking neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels in excitable cells. Exposure usually occurs through ingestion of contaminated shellfish, resulting in an illness called paralytic shellfish poisoning.

**Synonyms:** - SAXITOXIN