The tropane alkaloids of A. belladonna were used as poisons, and early humans made poisonous arrows from the plant. [67] [8] In ancient Rome, it was used as a poison by Agrippina the Younger, wife of Emperor Claudius, on the advice of Locusta, a woman specializing in poisons, and Livia, who is said to have used it to kill her husband Emperor Augustus. [67] [68] Atropa belladonna belongs to the Solanaceae family, which it shares with potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, Jimson grass, tobacco, wolf berries and chili peppers. Belladonna berries were mistaken for blueberries by an adult female; The six berries she ate have been shown to cause severe anticholinergic syndrome. [44] The fatal symptoms of the plant are caused by atropine`s disruption of the parasympathetic nervous system`s ability to regulate involuntary activities such as sweating, breathing, and heart rate. The antidote to belladonna poisoning is an anticholinesterase (such as physostigmine) or a cholinomimetic (such as pilocarpine), the same as for atropine. [45] The common name belladonna comes from its historical use by women, as bella donna is Italian for “beautiful woman.” Drops of the belladonna plant were used to dilate women`s pupils, an effect considered attractive and seductive. [10] [11] [8] Belladonna drops act as a muscarinic antagonist, blocking receptors in the eye muscles that reduce pupil size.
[49] Belladonna is currently rarely used for cosmetic purposes because it has the harmful effects of causing minor visual distortion, inability to concentrate on nearby objects, and increased heart rate. Prolonged use is said to cause blindness. [50] In the United States, belladonna is marketed as a dietary supplement, typically as an atropine ingredient in over-the-counter cold remedies. [31] [48] Although these cold remedies are likely to be safe for oral use at typical doses of atropine (0.2 milligrams), there is not enough scientific evidence to ensure their effectiveness. [48] According to FDA guidelines for dietary supplements, there are no regulated manufacturing standards for cold medications containing atropine, with some Belladona supplements containing impurities. [31] There is no statutory regulation for homeopathic practitioners in the UK. This means that anyone can practice as a homeopath, even if they have no qualifications or experience. Restrictions can be added or removed at any time. You should check if your ingredients are legal before applying for a traditional herbal registration for an herbal medicine. Atropa belladonna is also toxic to many pets and causes anesthesia and paralysis.
[46] However, cattle and rabbits apparently eat the plant without any adverse effects. [42] In humans, its anticholinergic properties disrupt cognitive abilities such as memory and learning. [39] Atropa belladonna L. Back of the chalice, showing the concave back of the calyx lobes with the dirt of air pollution, covering the sticky trichomes. The modern pharmacological study of Atropa belladonna extracts was initiated by the German chemist Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge (1795-1867). In 1831, the German pharmacist Heinrich F. G. Mein (1799-1864)[14] succeeded in producing a pure crystalline form of the active ingredient, the baptized atropine. [15] [16] Atropa belladonna has unpredictable effects. [2] The antidote to belladonna poisoning is physostigmine or pilocarpine, as with atropine.
[7] The name Atropa belladonna was published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum. [27] Atropa derives from the name of the Greek goddess Atropos (“she who is not to be avoided”, that is.