Nightshade plant family

The Nightshade plant family (Solanaceae Pers.), containing 90 genera and more than 2000 species distributed in all continents, is particularly abundant in alkaloids (Table 1.7). The plant species belonging to this family grow... 

The members of this family—botanically named the Solanaceae, after the nightshade plant—are all valued for their fruits, with the exception of the potato, where it is the tubers that are eaten. Potatoes do bear small, green tomato-like fruits, but these are poisonous, and should never be eaten. The family includes ... 

The common Irish potato and the tomato belong to the plant family Solanaceae, also called the nightshade family or the potato family. It is the same family to which the various nightshades belong, including belladonna. In fact, the potato and the tomato are of the same genus Solanum, and the leaves of both the potato plant and... 

The main alkaloid of different cultivars of commercial tobacco species Nicotiana tabacum and N. rustica, Solanaceae) is nicotine, (S)-l-methyl-2-(pyrid-3-yl)pyrrolidone or (S)-3-(l-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine, 10-7. Nicotine is also present in small quantities in other plants (about 24 species of 12 plant families), but especially in plants of the nightshade family, which also includes potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants (aubergines). Biosynthesis of nicotine takes place in the roots of plants, from where nicotine is transported to the aerial parts, especially to the leaves. 

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

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. 

This family is characterized by producing substances that have dramatic effects on humans and animals the toxins in deadly nightshade, mandrake, and datura the nicotine in tobacco plants and the burning capsaicin in chili peppers. But it also contains cool, juicy sweet tomatoes and bell peppers eggplants, with their rich, creamy flesh and the ultimate in comfort food—the potato. 

Susceptible plants Nightshade-family plants, including tomatoes and potatoes. 

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... 

Solanine is a poisonous steroidal alkaloid, also known as glycoafkaloid, found in the nightshades family (Solanaceae). It is extremely toxic even in small quantities. Solanine has both fungicidal and pesticidal properties, and it is one of the plant s natural defences. 

Note The best-known antimuscarinic or anticholinergic drugs are the belladonna alkaloids. The major drugs in this class are atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine. A number of plants belonging to the potato family (Solanaceae) contain similar alkaloids. Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade), Hyoscyamus niger (henbane), Datura stramonium (jimsonweed or thorn apple), and several species of Scopolia also contain belladonna alkaloids. 

The Solanaceae family includes not only deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna—hence atropine) plants but also potatoes and tomatoes. Parts of these plants also contain toxic alkaloids for example, you should not eat green potatoes because they contain the toxic alkaloid solanine. 

The nightshade family of plants includes some very popular foods tomatoes sweet and hot peppers, eggplants, and potatoes It also includes tobacco and some poisonous plants that are infamous because of their associations with crime, witchcraft, and black magic. Even dieir names are sinister, henbane, mandrake, and deadly nightshade, for example. Nightshades look scary, too. They are rank, hairy plants with strange smells and peculiar flower some have dangerous fruit... 

Tliere are a number of good hooks on plants of the nightshade family and the strange effects they produce. Charles B, Heiser s... 

Other species in the nightshade family ate grown as garden ornamentals. Well-known night ade flowers include Browallia and Petunia, and the Chinese lantern is often found as an outdoor garden plant and sometimes as a potted house plant. 

Beets, chard, nightshade family plants Leafminers... 

Precautions Since alkaloids tend to be toxic to mammals, use care in handling this spray and avoid getting it on your skin. Some individuals are extremely allergic to plants in the nightshade family. Don t use tomato-leaf spray on other nightshade family crops because of the risk of spreading mosaic virus. 

In 1809, Vaquelin discovered atropine. Brandes recognized atropine as an alkaloid in 1819. Atropine only occurs in trace amounts in plants, but is readily obtained from the racemitization of levorotatory hyoscyamine which is abundant in nightshade family. Common sources are belladonna root, Jimson Weed, Hyoscyamus niger and H. muticus. 

The potato is in the same family as nightshade, and though the mature potato is edible, the remainder of the plant is as dangerous as a true nightshade. 

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