© User:Kilom691 · Public domain · Commons
Atropa bella-donna
Toxic🐾Schwarze Tollkirsche · (Atropa belladonna)
Nightshade family (Solanaceae)
Description
Glossy black, cherry-sized berries on a bushy perennial reaching up to 1.5 metres give deadly nightshade away at a glance — yet those sweetish fruits rank among the most dangerous poisons growing wild in Europe. Named after Atropos, the Greek fate who cuts the thread of life, this nightshade-family plant stores tropane alkaloids such as atropine and scopolamine in its leaves and roots. Under strict medical dosing, such compounds were historically used as antispasmodics, for pupil dilation before eye exams, or, highly purified, as an antidote for nerve-agent and pesticide poisoning — applications that remain the exclusive domain of physicians. Every part of the plant is toxic, and just a handful of berries can be life-threatening to a child; suspected poisoning requires immediate emergency care.
External use only!
This plant must NOT be taken internally. Use only as compress, salve, or bath.
CONTRAINDICATED during pregnancy
Belladonna alkaloids (atropine, scopolamine) cross the placental barrier and can cause fetal tachycardia and CNS damage. Any application during pregnancy is contraindicated.
CONTRAINDICATED during breastfeeding
Atropine passes into breast milk and can trigger anticholinergic effects (tachycardia, dry mouth, fever) in the infant. Breastfeeding: strictly contraindicated.
CONTRAINDICATED for children
Children are extremely sensitive to belladonna alkaloids. Even a few berries can be fatal. No use in children and adolescents under 18 years. Poisoning risk through attractive black berries is particularly high.
Critical drug interactions with:
Anticholinergika (Tiotropium, Ipratropium, Oxybutynin)
Historical documentation only — do NOT use
These internal applications are historically documented. This plant is highly toxic — self-treatment can cause severe poisoning or death. For documentation only, explicitly NOT a recommendation.
Historical pharmaceutical use of atropine-containing belladonna tincture as antispasmodic for gastrointestinal colic and biliary spasms. Applied under medical supervision only — largely replaced today by synthetic anticholinergics.
Preparation & dosage
Use of belladonna extracts in early Parkinson's therapy to alleviate tremor and muscle rigidity through anticholinergic action. Historically common before the introduction of L-dopa.
Preparation & dosage
Atropine from belladonna as antidote for organophosphate and carbamate poisoning (pesticides, nerve agents). This life-saving application is now standardized and exclusively medically indicated.
Preparation & dosage
Historical premedication before surgery: belladonna alkaloids (atropine, scopolamine) reduced salivation and bronchial secretion and prevented vagally-induced bradycardia. Today replaced by pure atropine or glycopyrrolate injections.
Preparation & dosage
Folk medicinal use of belladonna leaves as smoking herb for bronchial asthma (stramonium cigarettes). Historically widespread, now obsolete due to toxicity and lack of evidence.
Preparation & dosage
Homeopathic use of Belladonna (D6–D30) for febrile inflammations with redness, heat and delirium. Pure homeopathic dilution levels contain no pharmacologically active alkaloid amounts.
Preparation & dosage
Historical use of belladonna extract in ophthalmology for pupil dilation (mydriasis) for eye examinations and cosmetic purposes (Renaissance beauty care). Today replaced by synthetic mydriatics.
Preparation & dosage
⚠ External use only
TOXIC — ENTIRE PLANT. Atropa belladonna is one of the most poisonous plants in Europe. All plant parts contain toxic tropane alkaloids (atropine, scopolamine, hyoscyamine). The black berries are sweet and particularly attractive and dangerous for children. Symptoms of poisoning: dry mouth, tachycardia, dilated pupils, skin flushing, fever, hallucinations, seizures, coma. In case of suspected poisoning: IMMEDIATELY call emergency services and poison control. No self-medication. No lay use. Only under medical supervision in phytotherapy (now obsolete). Animal hazard: toxic to dogs and cats — the tropane alkaloids affect pets as well (Wag!).
Belladonna alkaloids (atropine, scopolamine) cross the placental barrier and can cause fetal tachycardia and CNS damage. Any application during pregnancy is contraindicated.
Atropine passes into breast milk and can trigger anticholinergic effects (tachycardia, dry mouth, fever) in the infant. Breastfeeding: strictly contraindicated.
Children are extremely sensitive to belladonna alkaloids. Even a few berries can be fatal. No use in children and adolescents under 18 years. Poisoning risk through attractive black berries is particularly high.
Drug interactions
Anticholinergika (Tiotropium, Ipratropium, Oxybutynin)
Additive anticholinergic effect: enhanced dry mouth, urinary retention, tachycardia, cognitive impairment up to central anticholinergic syndrome.
Trizyklische Antidepressiva (Amitriptylin, Imipramin)
Tricyclics have inherent anticholinergic properties; combination with belladonna alkaloids substantially potentiates anticholinergic side effects.
MAO-Hemmer (Phenelzin, Tranylcypromin, Selegilin)
MAO inhibitors may potentiate the effect and toxicity of belladonna alkaloids through reduced breakdown; central nervous system excitation possible.
Antihistaminika der 1. Generation (Diphenhydramin, Promethazin)
Many first-generation H1 antihistamines have anticholinergic properties; additive effects when combined with belladonna alkaloids.
Contraindications
- Narrow-angle glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure) — atropine dangerously worsens the condition
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia with voiding disorders — anticholinergic urinary retention
- Tachyarrhythmias and atrial fibrillation — atropine further increases heart rate
- Mechanical ileus and megacolon — intestinal paralysis through anticholinergics
- Pyloric stenosis — anticholinergic inhibition of gastric motility
- Myasthenia gravis — antagonizes neuromuscular transmission
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding (see above)
Harvested part: leaves and roots
- Time of day:
- Morning hours after dew has dried, to utilize peak alkaloid content
- Drying:
- Dry quickly at 40–50 °C in the shade; moisture risks racemization and alkaloid degradation; drying time max. 4 hours.
- Time of day:
- Daytime after leaf fall — plant withdraws alkaloids into the root
- Drying:
- Washed roots dried at 50–60 °C; highest total alkaloid content (up to 0.6 %); pharmaceutical processing requires controlled conditions.
- Atropine (dl-Hyoscyamine)AlkaloidContent: 0.2-0.6 %
Main alkaloid of belladonna leaves; racemic mixture of l- and d-hyoscyamine; competitive antagonist at muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M1–M5); mydriatic, antispasmodic, antisecretory.
- l-HyoscyamineAlkaloidContent: 0.3-0.5 %
Biologically active enantiomer; dominant in fresh plant prior to atropine (the racemate); 2× more potent than atropine; partially racemizes to atropine during drying and extraction.
- Scopolamine (Hyoscine)AlkaloidContent: 0.06-0.2 %
Epoxide derivative of tropane; more sedating than atropine; antiemetic; efficiently crosses the blood-brain barrier; medical use as motion sickness patch.
- ApoatropineAlkaloidContent: < 0.1 %
Dehydration product of atropine; weaker anticholinergic activity; formed during heating or storage of raw material.
- BelladonnineAlkaloidContent: < 0.05 %
Artifact alkaloid; formed mainly from hyoscyamine by dehydration; minor pharmacological significance.
- ScopolineAlkaloidContent: Spuren
Degradation product of scopolamine; barely pharmacologically active; identified in root and leaf extracts.
- Flavonoide (Rutin, Kaempferol-Glykoside)FlavonoidContent: nicht quantifiziert
Antioxidant companion substances; no primary role in toxicology; contributing to radical-scavenging activity of the extract.
- Steroidal saponins (Tomatidenol-Glykoside)SaponinContent: < 0.5 %
Detected in berries and leaves; contributing to overall toxicity; interaction with cell membranes.
- [6]MonographWag! — Belladonna Poisoning in Dogs (veterinary-reviewed)(accessed: 2026-06-03)
- [7]MonographCliniTox Giftpflanzen — Atropa bella-donna L.: sehr stark giftig +++ (Institut für Veterinärpharmakologie und -toxikologie, Universität Zürich)(accessed: 2026-08-10)
- [4]BookPlants for a Future — Atropa belladonna(accessed: 2026-05-24)
- [1]WikipediaAtropa belladonna — Wikipedia (EN)(accessed: 2026-05-24)
- [2]WikipediaAtropine — Wikipedia (EN)(accessed: 2026-05-24)
- [3]WikipediaScopolamine — Wikipedia (EN)(accessed: 2026-05-24)
- [5]WikidataAtropa belladonna — Wikidata Q48928(accessed: 2026-05-24)