Mandragora, mandrake

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

Mandragora (mandrake) Margaranthus (margaranthus) Nectouxia (nectouxia)... 

Mandragora (mandrake) species contain toxic tropane alkaloids, such as hyoscyamine and/or scopolamine. 

C17H21NO2, Mr 271.36, mp. 60-62 °C. A tropane alkaloid [LD50 (mouse p.o.) 160mg/kg]. A. is formed readily under acidic conditions by dehydrating hyos-cyamine and atropine. A. has been detected in various Solanaceae genera [e.g., Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade). Datura (thorn apple), Duboisia, Hyoscyamus (henbane), and Mandragora (mandrake)]. 

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

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. 

Synonym Bryonia, English Mandrake, Mandragora, Wild Vine. 

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

Mandrake Mandragora vemalis 0.4% hyoscyamine in root Anticholinergic toxicity More sedating than belladonna... 

Mandragora species (mandrake) Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) Scopoiia species (scopola)... 

Mahonia species (barberry) Mandragora species (mandrake) Matricaria recutita (chamomile) Medicago sativa (alfalfa)... 

Mandrake Mandragora species Zang qie Anisodus tanguticus... 

Atropa Mandragora Common Names Alraun, Brain Thief, Gallows, Herb of Circe, Ladykins, Mandrake, Racoon Berry, Satan s Apple, Wild Lemon... 

Harvested when plant in flower, mid-summer. Root collected in autumn ground leaves are collected after flowering season. Mandrake Mandragora officinarum... 

The terms mandrake and mayapple are used synonymously in the United States, being the plant species Podophyllum peltatum [of the plant family Podophyllaceae], which contains the toxic agent podophyUotoxin, which apparently has an anticancer or cancerostatic action [Hoffman, 1999, p. 81]. However, in Europe the mandrake is the species Mandragora officinarum of the family Solanaceae and contains belladonna-type alkaloids, namely, tropane or atropine alkaloids that include scopolamine and hyoscyamine. These are noted to have an anticancer action [Hoffman, 1991, p. 144]). 

On the range of associations with mandragora, see C. J. S. Thompson, The Mystic Mandrake (London Rider, 1934). Other noted literary references to mandrake in the period appear in John Donne s poems Song ( Go, and catch a falling star ) and Twicknam Gardens, as well as Webster s The White Devil and The Duchess ofMalfi. 

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