Black henbane is a herbaceous biennial from the genus Belena of the Solanaceae family.
Description:
The root system is rod, with a thickened root neck. The stem is straight, 30 – 70 cm high. The leaves are alternate, simple, large. The lower ones are on elongated petioles, elongated ovoid, and the upper ones are ovate. The inflorescence consists of large bisexual flowers, the petals of which are dirty yellow, with purple veins. The fruit is a multi-seeded capsule with a lid that closes. Seeds are small, round, brownish-gray, weight 1000 seeds – 0.5 – 0.9 g. Distributed in natural conditions throughout Ukraine near roads, plantations, vegetable gardens, in other uncultivated areas, creating thickets.
Contains active substances:
The plant is very poisonous. The leaves contain a large number of alkaloids (atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine), glycosides (hyoscipicrin, hyoscerin, hyosceresin), tannins.
Medicinal use:
In medicine, it is used internally as an antispasmodic, analgesic and sedative for diseases of the digestive system, and externally as an anesthetic for neurology. Widely used in gynecological practice. In folk medicine, they are used for dysentery, shaking, coughing, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, stomach and intestinal cramps, hysteria, insomnia, painful menstruation, etc. The plant is part of asthmatol, a smoking powder for asthma. In veterinary medicine, henbane is used against a number of diseases.