Department of pharmacognosy

By

2-Marwa Hossam1-Heba Mohammed ali4-Asmaa Abd Al Fatah3-Fatma El Shahat

6-Dana Shokry Mohammed

5-Heba El Ghazaly

8-Sheren Karam Ezzat7-Asmaa Mohammed Mosbah

10-Nehal Abd El Latef9-Aya Mosbah11-Fatma Hussein

Self-learning project 2012

Botanical monographs of medicinal plants project

" Atropa belladonna L."

Arabic name: الحسن ستCommon name: Belladonna (Nightshade)

Origin: It is the leaves and flowering tops of Atropa belladonna Family: - Solanaceae

A-Morphological characters:

1-leaf

The Leaf is a simple leaf

Insertion Cauline leaves.

Phyllotaxis Alternate.

Venation Reticulate Pinnate.

Petiole Petiolated.

Leaf base Normal.

Stipules Foliacious.

Lamina Ovate.

Lamina Base

Asymmetric.

Margin Entire.

Apex Acute.

Self-learning project 2012

Fig.1 Belladonna leaves

2-Flower

-The flowers are long, wide and have a curved pedicle , the corolla is campanulas and livid purple color when fresh.

-Cohesion of sepals: Gamosepalous.

-Cohesion of petals: Gamopetalous.

-Insertion of corolla: Hypogenous flower.

-Adhesion of Stamen: Epipetalous

-Gynoecium: Monocarpellary.

-Placentation: Free and central.

-Inflorescences: Simple cymose.

.

Self-learning project 2012

Fig.2 Belladonna flower

B-Microscopic character:

-The epidermal cells, on making a surface section, appear undulating, on the lower surface the stomata are more numerous, near to which arise trichomes, which tend to cover and protect the stomata by preventing too great evaporation and so assist the work of transpiration.

Self-learning project 2012

AB

D

E

A

C

A-Epidermis (upper surface and lower surface) B-palisade cells under which are the mesophyll cells C-crystal containing cells (calcium oxalate in minute crystals) D-simple trichomes E-head-bearing and gland-bearing trichome

Fig.3 T.S in Belladonna leaf

1. Upper epidermis with underlying crystal sand idioblasts

2. Lower epidermis showing cuticular striations and anisocytic stomata.

Fig.4 Epidermal character

-Vascular bundle: Bicollateral

-Ergastic substanc:calcium oxalate crystal -Stomata:  Anisocytic 

-Trichomes:

1 -Galndular

A- Clavate Trichome

B- Unicellular head ,multicellular uniseriate glandular trichome

2-Non glandular

C-Multicellular Uniserriate non glandular trichome

Self-learning project 2012

A B C

Fig.5 Trichomes of belladonna

Fig.5 Anisocytic Stomata

C-Pharmaceutical Uses:--Quite often Belladonna is used as homeopathic remedies such as the common cold, earaches, fever, menstrual cramps, sunstroke, toothaches, headaches, sore throats, and boils. -How the patient ingests and how much they ingest is determined by a few various factors such as their symptoms, mood, and overall temperament. -When Belladonna is administered for homeopathic use it is highly diluted because of the toxicity level of it.

- No one should ever use Belladonna as a self-help measure and it should only be taken under the care of a qualified doctor.

-The doses given of Belladonna are always in very low doses. -When Belladonna is prescribed it is either added to sugar pellets or mixed with other types of drugs and is available by prescription only. So while it is clear that Belladonna is an extremely dangerous herb it is also very beneficial when used correctly.

Belladonna extract is used in some commercial product such as Bellacid.

Self-learning project 2012

Fig.6 Bellacid Tablet an antispasmodic medication.

Reference:--Roy Upton et al, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia Botanical Pharmacognosy - Microscopic Characterization of Botanical Medicines, Pages 129–155, CRC Press 2011.

-BETTY P. JACKSON et al, ATLAS OF MICROSCOPY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS, CULINARY HERBS AND SPICES, pages 18-19, Belhaven press

Self-learning project 2012