Henbane

Atropiae (41), isolated from the deadly nightshade Airopa belladonna L.) is the racemic form, as isolated, of (—)-hyoscyamine [which is not isolated, of course, from the same plant but is typically found ia solanaceous plants such as henbane (HyosQiamus mgerl. )]. Atropiae is used to dilate the pupil of the eye ia ocular inflammations and is available both as a parasympatholytic agent for relaxation of the intestinal tract and to suppress secretions of the saUvary, gastric, and respiratory tracts. In conjunction with other agents it is used as part of an antidote mixture for organophosphorus poisons (see Chemicals in war). 

The British Pharmacopoeia (1932) recognises three of these solanaceous drugs and specifies for them minimum requirements per cent, of total alkaloids, calculated as hyoscyamine, viz. belladonna, leaves 0-3, root 0-4 henbane, leaves and flowering tops 0-05 stramonium, leaves and flowering tops 0-25. The United States Pharmacopoeia, XIII, specifies the same minimum limits for belladonna leaves and stramonium and for henbane, 0-04. 

Hyoscyamine, Ci,H2303N. This, the most commonly occurring alkaloid of the oup, was obtained by Geiger and Hesse from henbane. Ks hydrolysis into a base and an acid was observed by Hohn and Reichardt. The accepted, empirical formula is due to Ladenburg, who s owed that it was a physical isomeride of atropine. Hyoscyamine... 

Bilse, /., Bilseokraut, n. henbane, hyoscyamus. Bimetall-. bimetallic. 

Those experiencing intoxication with Henbane feel a pressure in the head, a sensation as if someone were closing the eyelids by force sight becomes unclear, objects are distorted in shape, and the most unusual visual hallucinations are induced. Gustatory and olfactory hallucinations frequently accompany the intoxication. Eventually sleep, disturbed by dreams and hallucinations, ends the inebriation. 

The Nightshade family of plants includes three important hallucinogens Atropa belladonna (belladonna), Hyoscyamus niger (henbane), and Mandragora... 

The Indian folk medicine, called Ayurvedic medicine, can be traced back 3000-5000 years and was practiced by the Brahmin sages of ancient times. The treatments were set out in sacred writings called Vedas. The material medica are extensive and most are based on herbal formulations. Some of the herbs have appeared in Western medicines, such as cardamom and cinnamon. Susruta, a physician in the fourth century ad, described the use of henbane as antivenom for snakebites. 

Henbane is a biennial herb growing wild in Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, and cultivated in several other countries (Robbers et al. 1996). The ancient Egyptians mention its use in the Ebers Papyrus, written circa 1500 B.C.E. (Shultes and Hofman 1992). It was also mentioned in writings by the ancient Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides for its medicinal uses. It has been suggested that the Oracle of Delphi inhaled smoke from henbane seeds to induce a prophetic trance. The plant is poisonous to livestock animals, as indicated by its common name henbane, and by its botanical name hyoscyamus, meaning "hog bean."... 

Other plants of the nightshade family, including Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade), Hyoscyamus niger (black henbane), and Datura stramonium (Jimson weed), contain atropine-like toxins that are anticholinergic, blocking the muscarinic receptors. An incidence in southern Utah of cattle poisoned on black henbane, with many death losses, was recently reported (Pfister, 2003). Atropine and atropine-like alkaloids are discussed Section 2.2.1.7. 

Source Pyridine occurs naturally in potatoes, anabasis, henbane leaves, peppermint (0 to 1 ppb), tea leaves, and tobacco leaves (Duke, 1992). Identified as one of 140 volatile constituents in used soybean oils collected from a processing plant that fried various beef, chicken, and veal products (Takeoka et al., 1996). 

A. Alkaloids 1. Belladonna-type solanaceous tropane alkaloids [Atropine (1), (—)-Hyoscyamine (2), Scopolamine ((—)-Hysoscine)(3)] Atropa belladonna L. (belladonna), Datura metel L., D. stramonium L. (jimson weed), Hyoscyamus niger L. (henbane), Mandragora officinarum L. (European mandrake), and other solanaceous species Anticholinergics (parasympatholytics)... 

The oldest drugs of this group are different galena drugs isolated from belladonna (Atropa belladonna), henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), and stramonium (Datura stramonium). They are all obtained from plants that contain the L-hiocyamine and a somewhat lesser qnantity of L-scopolamine. As a mnscarinic receptor blocker, L-hioscyamine is mnch more active that D-hioscyamine on both the periphery as well as on the CNS however, a racemic mixture of D,L-hioscyamine— known better as atropine—is preferred in the majority of medical cases because it is readily available. 

Atropine-like effects - dry mouth, dilated pupils, confusion, hallucinations, memory lose Solanaceae family -jimsonweed, henbane, deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), angles trumpet (atropine and scopolamine) Clinical effects of many of the plants recognized since ancient times. Deaths are rare but children vulnerable. Hallucinations from muscarine and psilocybin... 

Plants containing indoleamines include Psilocybe mushrooms, morning glory and Virola. Plants containing tropane alkaloids such as the muscarinic antagonists scopolamine and atropine are found in some members of the Solanaceae plant family—including datura, mandrake, henbane and... 

The original writings of Hippocrates and his school have not been handed down to us. They reached Alexandria around 300 BC and were summarized by the Roman author Celsus in the first century AD. The need for individual adaptation of each therapy was stressed here frightened patients are to be reassured in a friendly manner manic patients should be chained and perhaps starved music and poetry lift the melancholy the mad should be shunned or brought to other thoughts by sudden noises and adequate sleep should be ensured for all patients. Poppy (opium) and henbane were available for this, but rippling fountains could also have a calming and soporific action. 

Atropine and its naturally occurring congeners are tertiary amine alkaloid esters of tropic acid (Figure 8-1). Atropine (hyoscyamine) is found in the plant Atropa belladonna, or deadly nightshade, and in Datura stramonium, also known as jimsonweed (Jamestown weed), sacred Datura, or thorn apple. Scopolamine (hyoscine) occurs in Hyoscyamus niger, or henbane, as the /(-) stereoisomer. Naturally occurring atropine is /(-)-hyoscyamine, but the compound readily racemizes, so the commercial material is racemic d,/-hyoscyamine. The /(-) isomers of both alkaloids are at least 100 times more potent than the d(+) isomers. 

Hyoscyamus bohemicus F. W. Schmidt H. niger L. Liang Shi (Henbane) (root, leaf) Alkaloid, hyoscyamine, hyoscine, scopolomine, hyoscypierin, choline, mucilage, albumin.60,144,450 This herb is toxic. Antispasmodic activity. 

Atropine and scopolamine are alkaloids produced by members of the plant family Solanaceae which includes belladonna Atropa belladonna -source of atropine), henbane Hyoscyamius niger- the source of scopolamine), tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers, eggplant, and members of the Datura subfamily or genus, thornapple, Jimson or Jamestown weed, angel s trumpet, stinkweed, mandrake, and devil s apple. In the eatable plants it is the green portions which are poisonous vines, leaves, and sprouts. 

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