Datura (Datura stramonium) Common Datura
An annual herbaceous plant with an unpleasant smell of the nightshade family. The stem is erect, 30-100 cm tall, hollow, simple or forked-branched, almost cylindrical below, bluntly angular above; branches on the inner side are short-pubescent. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate, unevenly pointed, serrated-large-toothed, with petioles that merge with the stem at the apical leaves. The flowers are bisexual, regular, large, on short peduncles, single, located in the forks of the stem and branches; fused-petaled corolla, white, funnel-shaped, rippled, with a 5-lobed bend; its blades are broadly triangular, sharply narrowed into a thin point. The fruit is an egg-shaped upright capsule covered with thorns. Blooms in June – August.
Distribution . Datura common grows on littered places, wastelands, over roads, near houses, in gardens, in gardens throughout the territory of Ukraine.
Procurement and storage. Leaves (Folia Daturae stramonii) and seeds of dope (Semina Daturae stramonii) are used for medicinal purposes. Datura leaves are collected from the beginning of flowering of the plant until the autumn frosts, tearing them off so that the remains of petioles do not exceed 2 cm. The selected leaves are immediately dried in the attic, under shelter in the open air or in dryers at a temperature of up to 40°. Drying is stopped when the middle vein of the leaf becomes brittle. 13-14% of dry raw material is obtained. The shelf life is 2 years. Store raw materials in a dry place (it loses its medicinal properties when moistened). Raw materials are not released by pharmacies. Datura seeds are collected fully ripe in autumn and dried well. Seeds are used only in folk medicine. Datura is a poisonous plant. After working with it, you need to wash your hands thoroughly. Chemical composition. All parts of the plant contain hyoscyamine, atropine, scopolamine, daturine and other tropane alkaloids. In addition, the seeds contain poisonous fatty oil (16-25%), and the leaves contain essential oil.
Pharmacological properties and use. In terms of pharmacological properties, common dope is close to common belladonna. It is characterized by the general pharmacological properties of atropine-like compounds, the main feature of which is the ability to block m-cholineractive systems of the body. The main active substance of common dope is hyoscyamine. It has narcotic, soporific, antispasmodic, sedative and pain-relieving properties, expands the pupils of the eyes for a long time, reduces the secretion of salivary, gastric, sweat and pancreatic glands and reduces the tone of smooth muscles. Unlike atropine, hyoscyamine exhibits a pronounced bronchodilator effect, tones and excites the respiratory center, especially when the latter is suppressed by alcohol or sleeping pills, and hyoscyamine significantly surpasses atropine in its cholinolytic effect. In scientific medicine, common dope products are used for bronchial asthma, bronchitis, and spasmodic cough. In folk medicine, in addition, the products of common dope are used for neuralgia, neurasthenia, nervous and mental diseases, whooping cough, for painful drowsiness, chorea, epilepsy, for constant and prolonged hiccups, priaschma (morbid and prolonged tension of the genital organ without sexual excitement), nymphomania (excessive sexual desire in women); locally, in the form of baths, douches, enemas – with chronic rheumatism, prolapse of the uterus and rectum. with constant and prolonged hiccups, priaschma (morbid and prolonged tension of the genital organ without sexual arousal), nymphomania (excessive sexual desire in women); locally, in the form of baths, douches, enemas – with chronic rheumatism, prolapse of the uterus and rectum. with constant and prolonged hiccups, priaschma (morbid and prolonged tension of the genital organ without sexual arousal), nymphomania (excessive sexual desire in women); locally, in the form of baths, douches, enemas – with chronic rheumatism, prolapse of the uterus and rectum.
Medicinal forms and applications .
Orally – tincture (1 part of crushed seeds to 5 parts of 70% alcohol, infuse for 7 days, filter) 2 drops per 2 tablespoons of water 4-5 times a day.
Respiratory – Asthmatolum and Asthmatinum are used in the form of cigarettes for bronchial asthma;
decoction of leaves (20 g of raw material per 200 ml of boiling water) or tincture of seeds (in a ratio of 1:5) is inhaled through the nose for 15-20 minutes.
Locally – a decoction of leaves (20 g of raw materials per bucket of water) in case of partial prolapse of the uterus and colon (sitting baths) and chronic rheumatism (full baths).
Drugs of ordinary dope are contraindicated in glaucoma. The plant is very poisonous and should be used only under the supervision of a doctor.