Belladonna

Atropa belladonna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade, is a toxic perennial herbaceous plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant. It is native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. The chemicals atropine and scopolamine, which are derived from belladonna, have important medicinal properties. Atropine and scopolamine have almost the same uses, but atropine is more effective at relaxing muscle spasms and regulating heart rate. It's also used to dilate the pupils during an eye exam. After centuries of use as a poison and cosmetic, the medicinal uses of deadly nightshade were finally realized and made available to treat a variety of illnesses and ailments. Its medical applications include use as a pain reliever, muscle relaxer, anti-inflammatory, and as a treatment for whooping cough and hay fever. Other names for the plant include belladonna, deadly nightshade, devil's berries, naughty man's cherries, death cherries, beautiful death, and devil's herb. The plant earns its sinister nicknames, as its foliage and berries are extremely toxic, containing potent dosages of tropane alkaloids.

Scientific name: Atropa belladonna

Family: Solanaceae

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Solanales