Anticholinergic Plants and Synthetic Agents

Atropine and its ether analog scopolamine (hyoscine) are potent alkaloids that are found as active compounds in a large number of plants around the world (belladonna alkaloids). The deadly nightshades ( European bittersweet, Solanum dulcamara or belladonna, belladonna) were used in the Mid- 

Trihexyphenidyl (Artane) and benztropine (Cogentin) are prescription drugs used in the treatment both of Parkinson s disease and the extrapyramidal side effects produced by neuroleptic medication. They are occasionally abused for their mind-altering properties, which occur at toxic doses (Perry et al. 1978). Abusers often try to obtain these drugs by false representation of extrapyramidal symptoms, which are claimed to result from the use of phenothi-azines or other neuroleptics (Rubinstein 1978). 

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