Atropa belladonna
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| # a [[plant]], ''[[Atropa belladonna]]'', having [[purple]] [[bell]]-[[shaped]] [[flower]]s and [[poisonous]] [[black]] [[glossy]] [[berries]]; [[deadly nightshade]] | # a [[plant]], ''[[Atropa belladonna]]'', having [[purple]] [[bell]]-[[shaped]] [[flower]]s and [[poisonous]] [[black]] [[glossy]] [[berries]]; [[deadly nightshade]] | ||
| # an [[alkaloid]] extracted from this plant, sometimes used [[medicinally]], containing [[atropine]] | # an [[alkaloid]] extracted from this plant, sometimes used [[medicinally]], containing [[atropine]] | ||
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| + | '''''Atropa belladonna''''', commonly known as '''belladonna''' or '''deadly nightshade''', is a [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herbaceous plant]] in the family [[Solanaceae]], native to [[Europe]], [[North Africa]], and [[Western Asia]]. The foliage and [[Berry|berries]] are extremely [[toxin|toxic]], containing [[tropane|tropane alkaloid]]s. | ||
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| + | == Folklore == | ||
| + | In the past, it was believed that [[witches]] used a mixture of belladonna, [[opium poppy]], and other plants, typically poisonous (such as [[monkshood]] and [[poison hemlock]]) in [[flying ointment]] they applied to help them fly to gatherings with other witches. [[Carlo Ginzburg]] and others have argued that flying ointments were preparations meant to encourage hallucinatory dreaming; a possible explanation for the inclusion of belladonna and opium poppy in flying ointments concerns the known antagonism between tropane alkaloids of belladonna (specifically [[scopolamine]]) and opiate alkaloids in the opium poppy, ''[[Papaver somniferum]]'' (specifically morphine), which produces a dream-like waking state. This antagonism was known in folk medicine, discussed in eclectic (botanical) medicine formularies The antagonism between opiates and tropanes is the original basis of the [[Twilight Sleep]] that was provided to [[Queen Victoria]] to deaden pain as well as consciousness during childbirth, and which was later modified so that isolated alkaloids were used instead of plant materials. The belladonna herb was also notable for its unpredictable effects from toxicity. | ||
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Revision as of 22:54, 9 November 2009
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- a plant, Atropa belladonna, having purple bell-shaped flowers and poisonous black glossy berries; deadly nightshade
- an alkaloid extracted from this plant, sometimes used medicinally, containing atropine
Atropa belladonna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Solanaceae, native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. The foliage and berries are extremely toxic, containing tropane alkaloids.
Folklore
In the past, it was believed that witches used a mixture of belladonna, opium poppy, and other plants, typically poisonous (such as monkshood and poison hemlock) in flying ointment they applied to help them fly to gatherings with other witches. Carlo Ginzburg and others have argued that flying ointments were preparations meant to encourage hallucinatory dreaming; a possible explanation for the inclusion of belladonna and opium poppy in flying ointments concerns the known antagonism between tropane alkaloids of belladonna (specifically scopolamine) and opiate alkaloids in the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum (specifically morphine), which produces a dream-like waking state. This antagonism was known in folk medicine, discussed in eclectic (botanical) medicine formularies The antagonism between opiates and tropanes is the original basis of the Twilight Sleep that was provided to Queen Victoria to deaden pain as well as consciousness during childbirth, and which was later modified so that isolated alkaloids were used instead of plant materials. The belladonna herb was also notable for its unpredictable effects from toxicity.
