Synonym: Datura herb, Angel's trumpet.
Biological source: Datura consists of the dried leaves and flowering tops of Datura metel
Family: Solanaceae.
Geographical source: India, England and other tropical and subtropical regions.
Cultivation, Collection and Preparation
Propagation method and period: Seeds. Since, germination is normally very slow the seeds
are soaked in, water and kept overnight, the rate of germination increases.
Collection: The drug is collected after 4 months of its cultivation. The leaves and branches are removed, drug is dried in the sun and marketed by packing in gunny bags.
Macroscopic characters:
Colour: Greyish green
Odour: Unpleasant odour
Taste: Bitter
Shape: Broken wrinkled, crushed leaves along with stem fragments and floral parts. The leaf is unequal at the base with acute apex and glabrous lamina,
Size: Length of 9 - 18 cm and width of 8 - 13 cm acute 2 - 4 broad lobes.
Flowers are reddish-purple on outer side and whitish on inner side, Corolla is thin, acuminate, triangular to circular in shape. Flowers are funnel shaped with pedicel which is never erect.
Flowers
Colour: Reddish-purple on outer side and whitish on inner side,
Shape: Corolla is thin, acuminate, triangular to circular in shape.
Flowers are funnel shaped with pedicel which is never erect.
Chemical constituents:
Datura herb contains upto 0,5% of total alkaloids
Hyoscine (scopolamine)
l-hyoscyamine (scopoline) and atropine
Hyoscine (C17 H21 04 N) is an ester of tropic acid and scopine
Scopolamine
Uses:
Hyoscine are parasympatholytic with anticholinergic and
Central nervous system depressant effects
In cerebral excitement
In treatment of asthma and cough.
In motion sickness, gastric or duodenal ulcers.