Atropa belladonna or Atropa bella-donna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Solanaceae, native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). These toxins include scopolamine and hyoscyamine, which cause a bizarre delirium and hallucinations, and are also used as pharmaceutical anticholinergic… Despite its ominous name, it’s highly unlikely that you’ve never used belladonna. Belladonna is cultivated in France and elsewhere for the medicinal alkaloids hyoscyamine, hyoscine (scopolamine), and atropine, which are used in sedatives, stimulants, and antispasmodics. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... …a plant toxin is the belladonna alkaloid hyoscyamine, which is found in belladonna (, Atropine occurs naturally in belladonna (. Certain synthetic and semisynthetic derivatives—such as propantheline, glycopyrrolate, and methscopolamine—have been developed in order to circumvent the toxicity and undesirable side effects caused by the naturally occurring alkaloids in the dried leaves or roots. Belladonna, (Atropa belladonna), also called deadly nightshade, tall bushy herb of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), the source of the crude drug of the same name. Belladonna’s so toxic that eating a small quantity of i… Corrections? Omissions? Belladonna, native to Europe and parts of Asia, can grow up to 5 feet. It’s an ingredient in a number of medications, and also sold as a supplement. It grows to about 1.5 metres (4–5 feet) tall and has dull green leaves, violet or greenish flowers in the axils of the leaves or in the forks of branches, sweet shiny black berries about the size of cherries, and a large tapering root. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/plant/belladonna. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Updates? Atropa belladonna (Fig. Belladonna, (Atropa belladonna), also called deadly nightshade, tall bushy herb of the nightshade family (), the source of the crude drug of the same name.The highly poisonous plant is a native of wooded or waste areas in central and southern Eurasia. The highly poisonous plant is a native of wooded or waste areas in central and southern Eurasia. 16.14) is a widely cultivated ornamental plant that contains neurotoxic alkaloids that act as competitive inhibitors of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.Peripherally, Atropa poisoning reduces parasympathetic activation of smooth and cardiac muscle, resulting in sedation. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Journal of the Royal Society of Health 2000;120(2):127-130. But how safe is it? A lively and informative new podcast for kids that the whole family will enjoy! It has purple flowers and dark, inky berries that are slightly sweet. Unseasonal severe poisoning of two adults by deadly nightside (Atropa belladonna). Steele CH. View abstract. It is a branched, thick-rooted, herbaceous perennial of the nightshade family (e.g., tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, tobacco, chili peppers, and jimsonweed) that grows to … When your eye doctor dilates your eyes, belladonna is in the eye drops. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Atropa belladonna, commonly known as deadly nightshade or belladonna, is one of the most toxic plants native to the Eastern Hemisphere. The foliage and berries are extremely toxic, containing tropane alkaloids.

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