Chronology -- Abbreviations -- Preface and acknowledgements -- 1. Introduction -- 2. l-Physostigmine (eserine) -- 3. l-Physovenine -- 4. l-Eseramine -- 5. l-N(8)-Norphysostigmine -- 6. l-Geneserine -- 7. 1H-, 13C- and 15N-Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the alkaloids of the Calabar bean -- 8. Other alkaloids of, as yet, unknown structures that have been isolated, or allegedly so, from the Calabar bean -- 9. Non-alkaloidal components of the Calabar bean -- 10. Biological activities of the alkaloids of the Calabar bean -- 11. Notes -- 12. References -- 13. Index.

Investigations into Calabar beans (the dried ripe seeds of Physostigma venenosum) and their alkaloidal components compose a classical scientific journey throughout some one-and-a-half centuries and not only represent a fascinating aspect of the history of medicine but which is, moreover, still ongoing at the forefront of chemical and medical discovery. Those in particular involving its major such component, l-physostigmine, have led to an understanding of some of the fundamental mechanisms occurring in physiology, pharmacology and biochemistry and, either actually or potentially (by providing a template and thereby acting as a "lead compound") have provided a useful treatment for a variety of neurological disorders associated with irregularities in cholinergic transmission in which augmentation of cholinergic activity has proved to be beneficial.