Henbane, Egyptian

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."... 

Hyostyamine, U5P. Hyoscyaminc is a levorotatory alkaloid obtained from varioiLs solanuceous species. One of the commercial sources is Egyptian henbane (Hyoscyamus mtilU us). in which it occurs to the extent of about 0.5%. Usually, it is prepared from the crude drug in a manner similar to that used for atropine and is purified as Ihe oxalate. Tlie free base is obtained easily from this salt. 

The Egyptians had a good knowledge of natural drugs. The Papyrus of Ebers , dating from about 1550 BC, mentions Aloe, Myrrha, and Henbane. 

For the extraction of L-hyoscyamine, Egyptian henbane, Hyoscyamus muticus, is used, owing to its high alkaloid content 0.5-1.5%. 

Hyoscyamus. Henbane hog s bean insane root poison tobacco black henbane. Dried leaves with or without the tops, of Hyoscyamus niger L. Soianaceae, yielding 0,040% hyoscyamus alkaloids (chiefly hyoscyamine and scopolamine). The leaves and seeds have been used as smooth muscle relaxants. The alkaloid content of the seeds is less than that of the leaves. Egyptian henbane (Hyoscyamus muticus L, Soianaceae) contains about 0.5% alkaloids. Habit. Europe, Africa, Asia, naturalized in U.S, cultivated in England, Cortsh r. Leaves scopolamine, hyoscyamine hyoscipicrin, choline. 

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