2. Family : Solanaceae
English Name : Thorn Apple
Indian Name : Dhatturah, Dhaturra
Dhusturah ( Sanskrit ),
Ummatti (Kannada) ,
Ummattai (Tamil ) ,
Kala Dhaturra (Hindi)
Species : Dhatura fastuosa , D. stramonium , D. alba
D. innoxia, D. metel, D.niger , D. atrox
Use : Medicine ( small dose)
Poison ( large dose)
3. The genus Dhatura, belonging to the Family Solanaceae.
It falls under the category of Alkaloids and classified as True Alkaloid having
Tropane type of alkaloid as a basic chemical ring.
Consists of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs and grows mostly in warmer parts of the
world.
Out of the 15 species reported from the world, 10 species are found in India.
Few Dhatura species like D. stramonium and D. innoxia are weeds.
Other than India, the plant species are found in Africa,
Asia, Europe, South America, Mexico.
It grows on a variety of soils but prefer rich alkaline
or neutral, clay-loamy soil, rich in organic matter for their
successful growth.
4. Species Origin
Leaves
(%)
Stem
(%)
Roots
(%)
Fruits
(%)
Seeds
(%)
fastuosa India, Asia
and Africa
0.12 0.12 0.10 0.20 -
stramonium India, USA
and Europe
0.41- 0.45 0.25-0.26 0.21 0.46 0.19
alba India, Asia
and Africa
0.12 0.12 0.10 0.20 -
innoxia India and
Mexico
0.25 0.3 0.39 0.12 0.23-0.25
metel India and
Mexico
0.12 0.12 0.10 0.20 -
6. Following are the active principles of Dhatura :
1. Hyoscine ( Scopolamine ) : C17H21NO4 Present mainly in fruits
2. Hyoscyamine ( Scopoline ) : C17H23NO3 present mainly in roots/seeds
3. Atropine : Present mainly in leaves/flowers
Atropi
Atropine
8. Following are the symptoms which are First complained of usually within 30 min. after
swallowing the drug :
Vomiting ( immediately after taking the drug)
Dryness of mouth and throat, burning pain in stomach, dysphagia, head
ache and difficulty in talking
Followed by :
giddiness
incoordination of muscle
peculiar flushed appearance of the face
photophobia
dry hot skin with raised temperature
dilation of pupil
inability to pass urine
delirium
Fatal cases drowsiness passes into stupor, convulsions and coma
Death occurs due to respiratory failure
9. Dhatura poisoning is having a resemblance with Atropine Poisoning and quoted as:
Hot as a Hare
Blind as a Bat
Dry as a Bone
Red as a Beet
Mad as a Hen
FATAL DOSE : Uncertain
FATAL PERIOD : Death usually occurs within 24 hours
10. Stomach wash with water or a 2-4 % solution of tannic acid, also give sodium sulphate
by mouth as a purgative
Physiostigmine i.v or i.m route in the dose of 0.5mg at 1-2 hour interval
Pilocarpine nitrate , Methacholine or Neostigmine in the dose of 6-15 mg
Short acting Barbiturates
Stimulants such as Caffeine and artificial respiration ,gives when necessary
11. Fragments of seeds may be find in the stomach wash and intestines, so therefore it is
necessary to make a careful search for them in :
vomit matter
stomach content
faecal matter
Congestion appears in :
oesophagus
stomach
duodenum
Inflammation in rare cases appears in mucous membrane of the stomach
12. From Stomach wash, vomit and urine : Perform by using Following steps
which are as follows:
Step 1 :
50 ml of the material
10ml of 5% HCl saturated with
Solid Ammonium sulphate
Heat in boiling water for 30 min. and then filter
it off through funnel
Residue on funnel wash
with 25 ml hot water
13. Step 2 :
Step 1 ( Aqueous
acidic filter solution)
50 ml ether
In separating funnel and shake for 5 min.
Ether Layer Aqueous layer
Wash with 10 ml
of 5% HCl
A.A.LayerE.Layer
NH4OH and extract
with CHCl3 :Ether
Fractions combine &
pass through anhyd.
Sod. Sulphate &
evaporate to dryness
Aqueous Layer
Use
for
test
Discard Discard
14. Physical appearance : a. Seeds are hard, flattened, kidney shaped
b. very much resembling to those of capsicum seeds
Microscopic Test :
Fragments of
seeds(Vomit or
stomach wash)
+
Drop of Glycerin
On Microscopic
slide
Observe under
microscope
Structure like
eye-lid
15. Vitalis Test :
Extracted Residue
0.5 % Acetic Acid
(2ml)
Porcelin basin &
evaporate to
dryness
One drop of fuming
nitric acid & again
evaporate to dryness
on a hot water bath
After cooling add 1 drop of
alcoholic caustic potash
Violet color produce which immediately changes to red and
then disappears. On adding few more drops of alcoholic caustic
potash color again appears
16. Physiological Test :
Extracted Residue
0.5 % Acetic
Acid(ml)
Instill into the eye
of a cat 4 times at
1 hour interval
Observe
Dilation of pupil observe
which is compare with
other eye in which no drop
of sample instill
17. Paper Chromatography :
Media : Whatman No.1 Paper treat with 2% KCl
Solvent System : Butanol : Acetic acid : Water (100:10:25)
Location Reagent: Dragendroff’s Reagent
Iodoplatinate spray
Observation : 3 spots observe ATROPINE ( Rf 0.71)
HYOSCINE (Rf 0.52)
HYOSCYAMINE (Rf 0.54)
S.No. Alkaloid Rf Color
Dragendroff’s
reagent
Observe
Iodoplatinate
Spray
1. Atropine 0.71 Orange Blue/Brown
2. Hyoscine 0.52 Orange Blue/Brown
3. Hyoscyamine 0.54 Orange Brown
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