Practical
Plants

Atropa bella-donna

Deadly Nightshade

a perennial member of the Atropa genus in the family Solanaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Atropa
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.9 m
Spread
0.75 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant, and especially the root, is very poisonous[16][19][2][7][18][5]. Even handling the plant has been known to cause problems if the person has cuts or grazes on the hand[16]. The plant is particularly dangerous for children since the fruit looks attractive and has a sweet taste[16]. The toxins are concentrated in the ripe fruit[9].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although it is poisonous, deadly nightshade has a long history of medicinal use and has a wide range of applications, in particular it is used to dilate the pupils in eye operations, to relieve intestinal colic and to treat peptic ulcers[15]. The plant can be used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, reducing tremors and rigidity whilst improving speech and mobility[15]. It has also been used as an antidote in cases of mushroom or toadstool poisoning[19]. This is a very poisonous plant, it should be used with extreme caution and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[12]. See also the notes above on toxicity. All parts of the plant are analgesic, antidote, antispasmodic, diuretic, hallucinogenic, mydriatic, narcotic and sedative[16][19][20][10][17][5][6][8][13]. The root is the most active part of the plant, it is harvested in the autumn and can be 1 - 3 years old, though the older roots are very large and difficult to dig up[16][19]. The leaves are harvested in late spring and dried for later use[19]. All parts of the plant contain tropane alkaloids[15]. The leaves contain on average 0.4% active alkaloids, whilst the root contains around 0.6%[13]. The alkaloid content also varies according to the development of the plant, being low when the plant is flowering and very high when bearing green berries[13]. These alkaloids inhibit the parasympathetic nervous system which controls involuntary body activities. This reduces saliva, gastric, intestinal and bronchial secretions, as well as the activity of the urinary tubules, bladder and intestines[15]. An extract of the plant has been used as eyedrops. It has the effect of dilating the pupils thus making it easier to perform eye operations[16][11]. In the past women used to put the drops in their eyes in order to make them look larger and thus 'more beautiful'[16][11]. The entire plant, harvested when coming into flower, is used to make a homeopathic remedy[11]. This is used especially in cases where there is localised and painful inflammation that radiates heat[11]. It is also used to treat sunstroke and painful menstruation[12].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antidote
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Hallucinogenic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Mydriatic
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This species has been found to be effective in removing PCB's from the soil and detoxifying them[14]. The plant is more effective in doing this if it is infected with the bacterial parasite Agrobacterium tumefaciens[14].

Ecology and functions

Soil builder

Environment

Range
Central and southern Europe, including Britain, south ad east to N. Africa and Iran.
Habitat
Woods, thickets and hedges, mainly on calcareous soils[20].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Germination of stored seed is slow and erratic, usually taking 1 - 6 months at 10°c[4][9]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of softwood terminal shoots in spring[9]. Root cuttings in winter[9].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any well-drained moisture retentive soil[9] in sun or partial shade[12]. Prefers a calcareous soil[1][16][20][3]. When grown as a medicinal plant, the highest levels of the medically active alkaloids are obtained from plants growing on a light, permeable chalky soil, especially when on a south-west facing slope[16]. The highest concentrations are also formed when the plant is growing in a sunny position and in hot summers[12]. The northerly limits of cultivation are about 50 - 55° north and at an altitude between 100 - 200 metres[16]. This species is widely cultivated, especially in eastern Europe, for the medically active compounds it contains. These are used in the drugs industry to produce a range of medicines[12]. Plants tend to be short-lived[9]. Slugs are very fond of this plant and have been known to completely remove the outer bark from the stems[K].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-7011-2526-8

    ↩

  3. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  4. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩

  5. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩1↩2

  6. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  7. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

    ↩

  8. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  10. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  11. Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-333-55581-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  13. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Anderson. A. New Scientist IPC Magazines Ltd, London 1997-00-00 ISBN 0262-4079

    ↩1↩2

  15. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  16. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  17. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  18. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  19. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  20. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

Edit this page