Atropa belladonna

Atropa belladonna

The belladonna (Atropa belladonna L.) is a flowering plant belonging to the Solanaceae family.

Systematics –
The belladonna, from the systematic point of view, belongs to the Eukaryota Domain, Kingdom Plantae, Magnoliophyta Division, Magnoliopsida Class, Order Solanales, Family Solanaceae and then to the Genus Atropa and the A. Belladonna Species.

Etymology –
The term Atropa derives from the Greek Ἄτροπος Átropos (in no way, the immutable, the inevitable); Atropo was in fact the name of one of the three Moire who, in Greek mythology, cuts the thread of life of mortals (because it is a very poisonous plant); the epithet bella-donna refers to the cosmetic use of the plant that was used by the courtesans of Venice as eye drops, to provoke the dilatation of the pupil.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The belladonna grows sporadically in mountainous and submontane areas up to an altitude of 1400 meters, especially on calcareous soils and on the edge of shady woods, like beech woods. We find it in the wild in Central Europe, in North Africa and in Western Asia up to Pakistan.

Description –
The Atropa belladonna is a perennial herbaceous species, with a large rhizome and robust stem. It can reach a height between 70 and 150 cm. It has simple, petiolate and oval-lanceolate leaves that alternate with smaller leaves in the upper area; both the leaves and the stem are covered with glandular hairs that are responsible for the unpleasant odor of the plant. belladona blooms in the summer and pollination is entomogama; from these develop small shiny black berries surrounded by the goblet which, when ripe, opens like a star. Remember that the berries are poisonous to humans until they can cause death.

Cultivation –
The Atropa belladonna is rarely cultivated at an amateur level, both for its toxicity and for its low aesthetic value. Instead it is grown intensively for its extracts from the pharmaceutical, phytotherapic and homeopathic industry. For the cultivation technique consult the following sheet.

Customs and Traditions –
Atropa belladonna has been used since time immemorial by doctors in phytotherapy for its spasmolytic qualities. The active ingredient of the plant is atropine or DL-giusciamina. Atropine is still used today as a dilator of the pupils and as a muscle relaxant. In homeopathy, pills made from belladonna are used for pharyngitis, nasopharyngitis, tracheobronchitis and tonsillitis, flu fever, childhood high fever seizures, violent, throbbing vasomotor headache, local inflammatory processes with redness, swelling, intense and radiant heat, acute pain , violent and throbbing, attacks of delirium, hypersensitivity to noise and bright light.
We remind you that, as regards the properties of belladonna, a distinction must be made based on the type of alkaloid that is used and, above all, given that the plant is very toxic, a medical prescription is essential (accidental ingestion of the berries can cause death).
Belladonna is, in fact, a very toxic plant and, for this reason, no traditional extractive form should be used, except as a medicinal specialty, in the form of a titrated and standardized extract.
Despite this, belladonna plays a role of some importance in the medical field as active ingredients (tropane alkaloids) are extracted from this plant, which are part of the composition of real drugs used in the treatment of different types of ailments.
The tropane alkaloids contained in belladonna, in fact, exert an antimuscarinic (or anticholinergic, if you prefer) action and – depending on the organ or tissue on which they act – cause different effects.
Atropine is available in injectable pharmaceutical preparations with indications for the treatment of sinus bradycardia (especially if complicated by hypotension) and for pre-anesthetic medication to decrease salivation and excessive secretions of the respiratory tract.
In fact, atropine – thanks to its anticholinergic activity – is able to reduce the release of acetylcholine at the level of the sinus node, thus inducing an increase in heart rate; moreover, it exerts a bronchodilator action and a reduction of tracheo-bronchial secretion.
Atropine is also part of the composition of eye drops that are used in eye exams, since – thanks to the block it exerts on the muscarinic receptors present in the eye – it is able to induce mydriasis and block the ciliary muscle thus preventing focus (cycloplegic action).
Scopolamine (or l-hyoscine, or hyoscine), on the other hand, can be found in specialty medicines for injectable use or in the form of transdermal patches for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. In addition, it is the active principle of various drugs used against spasms of the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract, thanks to the relaxing action on the smooth muscles of these systems exerted, precisely, through the blocking of muscarinic receptors.
In traditional folk medicine, belladonna leaves have long been used in poultices to be applied directly to the affected area in case of neurovegetative disorders, hyperkinesis, hyperhidrosis and bronchial asthma. In addition, belladonna is also used in folk medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal pain, muscle pain and bronchitis.
There are also uses of this plant in homeopathic medicine. It can be found in the form of granules, tablets, drops and suppositories. In this context, the plant is used for the treatment of a great variety of ailments, such as fever, inflammation and acute infections of the airways, headaches, acute meningitis, convulsions, spasms, allergic conjunctivitis, styes, dry eyes, photophobia, inflammations of the skin, acne, erythema, inflammation of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tract and joint inflammation.
The dose of homeopathic remedy to be taken can vary from one individual to another, also depending on the type of disorder to be treated and the type of homeopathic preparation and dilution to be used.
We also remember the side effects of using parts of this plant.
If large quantities of belladonna or its preparations are ingested, atropine poisoning may occur, resulting in severe symptoms such as: tachycardia, dry mouth, mydriasis, restlessness, hallucinations, delusions, respiratory depression, coma collapse and, in the most serious cases, even death can occur.
The lethal dose depends on the atropine content.
Due to the toxicity of the plant, therefore, its use in traditional preparations is highly discouraged, but only in the form of medicinal specialties and only under the doctor’s prescription.

Preparation Method –
Belladonna-based preparations are obviously relegated to the chemical-pharmaceutical field and under the very strict supervision and indication of a doctor.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Pharmacy of the Lord, Advice and experience with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Publisher
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (edited by), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only and do not in any way represent a medical prescription; there is therefore no liability for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.