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Toxicity
Toxicity
Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms: Abnormal body temperature, aggressiveness, agitation, arrhythmia, ataxia, blurred vision, cardiovascular collapse, coma, confusion, convulsions, delirium, diarrhea, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, difficulty urinating, dilated pupils, disorientation, dizziness, dry mouth, dry mucous membranes, dry skin, dysphonia, flushing, hallucinations, headache, hyperpyrexia, hypertension, hyperthermia, ileus, impaired short-term memory, loss of consciousness, muscular twitching, myoclonic jerking, nausea, photophobia, psychosis, rapid breathing, respiratory arrest, restlessness, seizures, slow and irregular breathing, tachycardia, urinary retention, weak rapid pulse, weight loss.
Duration of Symptoms: 24 - 48 hours
Rate of Poison: 30 - 60 minutes
Causes Death: Rare
Treatment: Activated charcoal, esmolol (beta-blocker), gastric lavage, ipecac (induce emesis) propanol, physostigmine.
Jimsonweed has often been used in the past as a hallucinogen. Teens have often ended up in the hospital for trying to either ingest the plant or even smoke it. There has been cases where people have died from ingestion, making it illegal to use the plant recreationally for mind-altering purposes.
Photo: D. A. Wilkerson
Much like its looks, the seeds are considered the most dangerous part of the plant, where much of its toxins are located. When split open, the seeds inside the pods can be spread when a bird consumes the seeds.
Photo: D. A. Wilkerson
Main Toxins
Main Toxins
Molecular structure of atropine (PubChem)
Atropine
Atropine
Atropine is known to be an anticholinergic blocking agent by acting as an antagonist to the acetylcholine receptor. It can also be defined as an antimuscarinic agent, which acts as an antagonist to muscarine, such as acetylcholine. To do this, atropine binds to the residues of the acetylcholine receptor, and prevents acetylcholine from binding to the receptor. By suppressing the action of acetylcholine, the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system is reduced.
Level of Toxin: 100 seeds contain 6 mg
Impacting Dosage: 10 mg
Hyoscyamine
Hyoscyamine
Hyoscyamine is an alkaloid derivative from atropine and exhibits anticholinergic activity. Like atropine, hyocyamine acts as an antagonist to acetylcholine receptors, which suppresses the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. Hyoscyamine is easily hydrolyzed to tropine and tropic acid.
Level of Toxin: Unknown
Impacting Dosage: Greater than 1.5 mg/day
Molecular structure of hyoscyamine (PubChem)
Molecular structure of scopolamine (PubChem)
Scopolamine
Scopolamine
Scopolamine is an antagonist for acetylcholine receptors and is a tropane alkaloid. Scopolamine blocks the receptors located on smooth muscle cells structures that are supplied by the postganglionic cholinergic nerves. Just like hyocyamine and atropine, scopolamine mimicks the activity of acetylcholine receptors and suppresses the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system.
Level of toxin: 0.24 - 0.41 ìg/mg
Impacting Dosage: 1.2 ng/mL
Other Toxins and Chemical Components
Other Toxins and Chemical Components
3-(2-Phenylpropionyloxy) tropane
3,6-Diacetoxytropane
3â,6â-Ditigloyloxy-7-hydroxytropane
3-Acetoxy-6-isobutyryloxytropan
3á-Tigloyloxytropane
3-Hydroxy-6-methylbutyryloxytropane
3-Tigloloxy-6-isobutyryloxytropane
3-Tigloyloxy-6-isovaleroyloxy-7-hydroxytropane
6â-ditigloyloxytropane
7-Epoxynortropane
Aponorscopolamine
Hyoscyamine N-oxide
Pseudotropine
Tropine
3-(3'-Acetoxytropoyloxy) tropane
3,6-Dihydoxytropane
3â,6â-Ditigloyloxytropane
3-Acetoxytropane
3â-Tigloyloxytropane
3-phenylacetoxy-6
3-Tigloxyloxy-6-acetoxytropane
3-Tigloyloxy-6-propionyloxy-7-hydroxytropane
6-Hydroxyacetoxytropane
7-Hydroxyapoatropine
Aposcopolamine
Littorine
Scopine
Tropinone
3-(Hydroxyacetoxy) tropane
3á,6â-Ditiglotoxytropane
3â,6â-Ditigloyloxytropane
3á-Tigloyloxy-6-hydroxytropane
3-Hydroxy-6-(2-methylbutyryloxy) tropane
3-phenylacetoxy-6,7-epoxytropane
3-Tigloyloxy-2-methylbutyryloxytropane
3-tigloyloxy-6-propionyloxytropane
6-Hydroxyapoatropine
7-Hydroxyhyoscyamine
Hydroxy-6-tigloyloxytropane
Meteloidine
Scopolamine N-oxide
3,7-dihydroxy-6-tigloyloxytropane
3á,6â-Ditigloyloxy-7-hydroxytropane
3á-Apotropoyloxytropane
3â-Tigloyloxy-6-hydroxytropane
3-Hydroxy-6-acetoxytropane
3-phenylacetoxy-6-hydroxytropane
3-Tigloyloxy-6-(2-methylbutyryloxy) tropane
3-Tropoyloxy-6-acetoxytropane
6-Hydroxyhyoscyamine
Apoatropin
Hygrine
Phenylacetoxytropane
Tigloidin
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: All parts, especially the seeds
Contact Hazard: Yes
Animals Affected: Livestock
*Birds consume the seeds, the plant smells really bad.
Medicinal Value
Medicinal Value
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Flower, leaves, seeds, whole plant
Properties: Analgesic, anodyne, antiparasitic, anthelmintic, antiasthmatic, anticancer, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antioxidant, antirheumatoid, antispasmodic, hallucinogenic, hypnotic, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, mydriatic, narcotic, sedative.
Components: Alkaloids, atropine, carbohydrates, hyoscyamine, proteins, tannins.
Antidote: Organophosphate poisoning, rattlesnake bites
Preparation: Decoction, extract, juice, poultice, smoked, tincture, wash
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Treatments
Treatments
Asthma: Smoked leaves
Burns: External application of stripped bark.
Sinus Infections: Leaf extract
Swellings: External application of stripped bark.
Ulcers: External application of stripped bark.
Location
Location
Ayurveda
China
Nubians: Smoked leaves to relieve asthma.
United States
Claimed Treatments
Claimed Treatments
Abscesses Wounds: Poultice
Asthma: Dried leaves and seeds are taken as a decoction or smoked (DANGEROUS).
Bronchitis: Leaves smoked.
Bruises
Burns: Ointment
Cancer
Chronic Laryngitis
Coma
Dandruff: Fruit juice
Depression
Dry Mouth
Epilepsy
Falling Hair: Fruit juice
Fever: Seeds
Fistulas: Poultice
Gout: Leaf vapour infusion
Hallucinations
Headache: Leaves
Hemorrhoids: Steamed leaf over boiling water.
Indigestion: Seed extract
Insomnia: Leaves, seeds
Intestinal Pain: Seeds
Mania
Neuralgia: Poultice
Parkinson's Disease
Pain: Roasted leaves
Rattlesnake Bites
Rheumatism: Leaf vapour infusion, ointment
Sinus Infection
Smooth Muscles: Relaxes smooth muscles of bronchial tube.
Sores: Fruit juice
Spastic Cough: Dried Leaves
Stomach Pain: Seed extract
Swellings
Tarantula Bites
Toothache: Seeds
Treat Madness
Ulcers
Worm Infestations: Seeds
Wounds: Fruit juice
Location
Location
Europe: Hemorrhoids
Edibility
Edibility
Parts of Plant: None known
Nutrients: None known
Taste: Bitter
WARNING: !DO NOT CONSUME!
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
None known
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
None known
General Facts
General Facts
Plant Facts
Plant Facts
Illustration of Jimsonweed by Louis Prang and Co.
License: Public Domain
Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)
Genus: Datura
Other Names: Apple Peru, Belladona de Pobre, Chamico, Concombre Zombi, Devil's Apple, Devil's Trumpet, Dhatura, Estramonio, Herbe aux Sorciers, Jamestown Weed, Kikania, La'Au-Hano, Mad Apple, Nightshade, Peo de Fraile, Peru-Apple, Pomme Epineuse, Stink Weed, Stinkwort, Stramonium, Thorn Apple, Toloache
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Bloom Colours: Purple, White
Bloom Time: May - October
Type: Annual
Height: 3 - 6.5 feet
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Habitat: Cultivated fields, disturbed habitats, overgrazed pastures, roadsides, waste lots.
Origin: Unknown, possibly around Europe
States: All but AL and WY
Provinces: AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK
Related Species
Related Species
Datura discolor
(Desert Thorn-Apple)
Photo: Neelix - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Datura innoxia
(Downy Thornapple)
Photo: D. A. Wilkerson
Datura metel 'Double Purple'
(Devil's Trumpet)
Photo: D. A. Wilkerson
Datura wrightii
(Sacred Datura)
Photo: Dlarsen
License: Public Domain
Other Species
Other Species
Datura ceratocaula
Datura dolichocarpa
Datura kymatocarpa
Datura reburra
Family Connection
Family Connection
Sources
Sources
Toxicity Section
Toxicity Section
Britannica. (n.d.). Jimsonweed. From https://www.britannica.com/plant/jimsonweed
Chan K. (2002). Jimson Weed Poisoning—A Case Report. The Permanente Journal, 6(4), 28–30. From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6220643/
Chandran, R. (2018) Jimsonweed: Sticky and Stinky. Extension. From https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/weeds/jimsonweed
Devi, M. R., Bawari, M., Paul, S. B., & Sharma, G. D. (2011). Neurotoxic and medicinal properties of Datura stramonium L.–review. Assam University Journal of Science and Technology, 7(1), 139-144. From https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Neurotoxic-and-Medicinal-Properties-of-Datura-L.-%E2%80%93-Devi-Bawari/71d659f5954baa1520bbd5eddcf8f4913cae562b
Dewitt, M. S., Swain, R., & Gibson, L. B., Jr (1997). The dangers of jimson weed and its abuse by teenagers in the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia. The West Virginia medical journal, 93(4), 182–185. From https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9274142/
IBM Micromedex. (n.d.). Scopolamine (Transdermal Route). MayoClinic. From https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/scopolamine-transdermal-route/proper-use/drg-20072848?p=1
Keeler, R. F. (1979). Toxic Plants (A. Douglas Keeler, Ed.). Columbia University Press. (pp. 63-65).
L. (n.d.). Datura stramonium - L. Plants For A Future. From https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Datura+stramonium
Mukhtar, Y., Tukur, S., & Bashir, R. A. (2019). An Overview on Datura stramonium L.(Jimson weed): A Notable Psychoactive Drug Plant. American Journal of Natural Sciences, 2(1), 1-9. From https://www.ajpojournals.org/journals/index.php/AJNS/article/view/423
Nafici, S. (2016). Weed of the Month: Jimson Weed. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. From https://www.bbg.org/news/weed_of_the_month_jimson_weed
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2022). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 3661, L-Hyoscyamine. From https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3661
Nelson, L. S., Shih, R. D., Balick, M. J. (2007). Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants (2nd ed.). Springer. (pp. 145-148)
RxList. (2020). Atropine. From https://www.rxlist.com/atropine-drug.htm#description
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 67-69)
Medicinal Value Section
Medicinal Value Section
Devi, M. R., Bawari, M., Paul, S. B., & Sharma, G. D. (2011). Neurotoxic and medicinal properties of Datura stramonium L.–review. Assam University Journal of Science and Technology, 7(1), 139-144. From https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Neurotoxic-and-Medicinal-Properties-of-Datura-L.-%E2%80%93-Devi-Bawari/71d659f5954baa1520bbd5eddcf8f4913cae562b
L. (n.d.). Datura stramonium - L. Plants For A Future. From https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Datura+stramonium
Medicinal Herb Info. (n.d.). Jimson Weed. From http://medicinalherbinfo.org/000Herbs2016/1herbs/jimson-weed/
Nafici, S. (2016). Weed of the Month: Jimson Weed. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. From https://www.bbg.org/news/weed_of_the_month_jimson_weed
Nelson, L. S., Shih, R. D., Balick, M. J. (2007). Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants (2nd ed.). Springer. (pp. 145-148)
Soni, P., Siddiqui, A. A., Dwivedi, J., & Soni, V. (2012). Pharmacological properties of Datura stramonium L. as a potential medicinal tree: an overview. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine, 2(12), 1002-1008.
Edibility Section
Edibility Section
None.
General Facts Section [Insufficient Data]
General Facts Section [Insufficient Data]
L. (n.d.). Datura stramonium - L. Plants For A Future. From https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Datura+stramonium
Nelson, L. S., Shih, R. D., Balick, M. J. (2007). Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants (2nd ed.). Springer. (pp. 145-148)
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 63-65)
Date of page creation: November 12, 2022
Updated page: March 10, 2023
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