Atropa Belladonna

Latin name: atropa belladonna

Common name: deadly nightshade

Cultural significance/history: Deadly nightshade was said to be the property of the devil, and that anyone who eats the berries are punished for it. It was also used by the roman empire on their arrows to cause death. Scopolamine was used in the murder of Cora Crippen, by her husband Henry Crippen, a prominent homeopath, in 1892, and was the first murder to be solved using wireless telegraphy.

Active ingredient: atropine, scopolamine

Where its found naturally: native to europe and western asia

uses/indications:  atropine used to treat sinus bradycardia, increasing HR. it is used as an anaesthetic premedication to reduce airway secretion, Mydriasis in eye examinations. Also used to treat organophosphate poisoning 

Contraindication/ Drug-Drug interactions: antihistamines- enhance atropine effect, MAO inhibitors- increase risk of hypertension and tachycardia, AChE inhibitors, reduced ability to block muscarinic receptors, increasings acetylcholine in the synapse. Contradictions- Myasthenia Gravis- enhances muscle weakness, Tachycardia- can increase HR, Glaucoma- increased intraocular pressure

Site of action and mechanism of action: competitive antagonist of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors 

Pharmacokinetics: taken orally, IV, IM, ophthalmically ect.- 50% bioavailability due to 1st pass metabolism, excreted renally 50% unchanged, metabolised by Liver enzymes, Half life=2-4 hours

Side effects: anticholinergic syndrome, altered mental status, mydriasis- nonreactive to light- blurry vision, flushed red skin, anhidrosis- dry skin and mucous membranes, urinary retention and constipation, tachycardia and constipation

A sample of Atropa Belladonna can be found in the Historical Medicinal Collection in the Department of Pharmacology in Trinity College Dublin, based in St. James’s University Hospital. It is found in a bottle labelled ‘Extractum Belladonnæ Siccum’, which is Latin for ‘Dry Extract of Belladonna’. The sample was obtained from ‘Boileau & Boyd, Ltd.’ a wholesale druggist based in Dublin that was established in the year 1700. The sample initially contained 10g of the Poison. In 1963, Boileau & Boyd was acquired by the Whelan Pharmaceutical Group. 

Sample #7/43