[mod.L. of unknown origin.]
1. A genus of Composite plants, of which the species A. montana or Mountain Tobacco, a native of Central Europe, has valuable medicinal properties.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Arnica … a species of doronicum, with plantane leaves.
1881. Blackw. Mag., April, 486/2. Golden arnica, autumnal cyclamen, blue corn-flowers.
2. A medicine prepared from the plant, esp. in the form of a tincture.
1788. Edin. New Dispens. (1791), 133/1. Arnica … has been of late recommended as a very powerful antispasmodic.
1864. Browning, Sludge, 1479. Stiffish cock-tail, taken in time, Is better for a bruise than arnica.
Hence Arnicin Chem., a yellow, noncrystallizable, bitter substance, the active principle of arnica. Arnicine, an alkaloid found in the same plant.
1847. Nat. Encycl., II. 150/2. An acrid bitter principle … called Arnicine.
1869. Watts, Dict. Chem., VI. 192. According to Bastick, arnica flowers contain a non-volatile bitter alkaloid, arnicine.
1876. Harley, Mat. Med., 537. The root is rich in arnicin.
