Page 17 - Pharmacognosy 02-06203

Stramonium Solanaceous Herbs Egyptian Hyoscyamus

Belladonna

Thornapple leaf Deadly nightshade ‫ست‬ Egyptian Henbane
‫الداتورا‬ ‫الحسن‬ ‫السكران المصر ي‬

Official as leaves with OR without flowering tops Official leaves with flowering
All collected during flowering tops

All contain alkaloids calculated as Hyoscyamine

Belladonna History:

During the Middle ages, a beauty tonic made from the leaves and berries of the Deadly
Nightshade was used by Venetian women to redden the pigment of their skin for a blush-like
appearance.

The beauty tonic was also used to dilate women’s pupils (fashionable at the time .... Atropa
Belladonna, meaning “Beautiful Lady” in Italian.

But what began as a beautifying agent quickly became associated with much more malicious
activities. It didn’t take long for the plant’s use as a poison began to overtake its use as a
beautifying agent.

The plant developed a reputation as the poison of choice for criminals.
Definitions E. P. 1984

Stramonium Belladonna Hyoscyamus

is the dried leaves, is the dried leaves, is the dried leaves and
flowering tops of
with or without the flowering with or without the flowering
Hyoscyamus muticus L.
tops of Datura stramonium L. tops of Atropa belladonna L.

or of Datura tatula L.

family Solanaceae
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