By Shahid Khan (Pharm-D Awkum)

3.  Henbane, Folia Hyoscyami, Hyoscyamus
Scientific Name:
 Hyoscyamus niger
Common Name:
 Bhang dana, Khurasaniijwain, Ijwain e
khurasani, Stinking nightshade.
Family:
 Solanaceae

4. Part Used:
 Dried leaves and flowering tops.
Geographical Source:
 Occurs throughout Europe, Southern England,
Persia and India. It is cultivated in south eastern
England, Thuringia, Germany, Russia and
Hungary.
Plant Description:
 Erect annual or biennial herb with coarse, hairy
stems; leaves are alternate, simple, toothed;
flowers are axillary, tubular, greenish yellow or
yellowish with purple veins; fruit is a capsule.

5. Description of Part Used:
 Commercial henbane consists of entangled
leaves or leaves and flowering tops
including stem, which does not exceed
about 5 mm in diameter in dried condition.
The drug has a pale grayish green color and
is clammy and resinous to the touch
Hyoscyamusniger
seeds

6. Constituents:
 Henbane contains hyoscyamine and traces of
scopolamine (hyoscine); atropine has been
reported, but its presence is doubtful.
 The total alkaloid present is about 0.045 –
0.14% and occasionally up to 0.2 %.Annual
henbane contains only about 0.03% of total
alkaloid.Henbane seeds contain about 0.05 %
of total alkaloid, consisting of hyoscyamine
and scopolamine; which are present in the
testaonly.In addition the seed contains about
20% of fixed oil.

7. Uses:
 Henbane is used as a cerebral and spinal
sedative; it does not give rise to the excitation
caused by belladonna and is therefore used in
insomnia when opium cannot be given.It also
relieves the griping caused by drastic
purgatives.The seeds have been used as a
source of the alkaloid hyoscine.
 Thrown upon hot coals they give off a vapor
which is a domestic remedy for toothache,
being allowed to enter the mouth for this
purpose.The leaves scattered about a house
will drive away mice

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