Mandragora

Mandragora vernalis. Hyoscyamine, hyoscine, -hyoscyamine, mandragorine (p. 83). ... 

Alraun, m., Alraune, Alrune, /. mandrake. Alraunwurzel,/. (Pharm.) mandragora. 

Hexen-kraut, n. mandragora, mandrake en-I chanter s nightshade Circaea). -mehl, I... 

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

Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum). Reprinted with permission from Harner MJ. (1973). The role of hallucinogenic plants in European witchcraft, in Hallucinogens and Shamanism. Harner MJ, ed. London Oxford University Press. 

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)... 

Etoposide and teniposide are synthetic derivatives of the extract of the American mandragora plant (May Apple). The mechanism of their action has not been completely explained however, they act on the enzyme topoisomerase II, which disturbs the twisting of DNA. In addition, they inhibit DNA and RNA synthesis, as well as transport of nucleotides to cells. Cytotoxic action on normal cells is observed only in very high doses. These drugs exhibit significant activity in lymphomas, leukemia, Kaposi s sarcomas, and in testicular cancer. 

Some typical genera Atropa Capsicum Cestrum Datura Deboisia Hyoscyamus Lycianthes Lycium Mandragora Nicotiana Petunia Physalis Solanum... 

Poisonous substances described by Dioscorides include conium, strychnia, colchicum, aconitum, the poppy, hellebore, and the mandragora. From the last named, a wine is made which produces so heavy, long continued and unconscious a sleep that physicians perform difficult operations by its use. Pliny also says that it is given before incisions or punctures are made in the body, in order to ensure insensibility to pain. 

Tropane alkaloids, principally hyoscyamine and hyoscine, are also found in two other medicinal plants, scopolia and mandrake, but these plants find little current use. Scopolia (Scopolia carniolica Solanaceae) resembles belladonna in appearance, though it is considerably smaller. Both root and leaf materials have been employed medicinally. The European mandrake (Mandragora officinarum Solanaceae) has a complex history as a hypnotic, a general panacea, and an aphrodisiac. Its collection has been surrounded by much folklore and superstition, in that pulling it from the ground was said to drive its collector mad due to the unearthly shrieks emitted. The roots are frequently forked and are loosely likened to a man or woman. Despite the Doctrine of Signatures, which teaches that the appearance of an object indicates its special properties, from a pharmacological point of view, this plant would be much more efficient as a pain-reliever than as an aphrodisiac. 

Mandragora autumnalis Bertol. and M. vernalis Bertol. (M. officinarum L.) (Solanaceae)... 

The same alkaloids (hyosciamine, hyoscine, cuscohygrine, apo-atropine, 3a-tigloyloxytropane, and 3,6-ditigloyloxytropane) and approximately to the same extent were found in the roots of these two species. This is the first known occurrence of tiglic acid esters in the genus Mandragora (107). 

Synonym Bryonia, English Mandrake, Mandragora, Wild Vine. 

MANDRAKE -- Mandragora officinarum. L. Family Solanaceae (Potato family). 

Atropa belladonna (belladonna= deadly nightshade), Datura stramonium, Hyostyamus, Lahia, Mandragora, Scopolia spp. 

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