BELLADONNA 591 



distinguished from belladonna root by having numerous scleren- 

 chymatous fibers, while inula has neither starch nor spheroidal 

 microcrystals of calcium oxalate. 



INNER STRUCTURE. See Figs. 246, 247, 248 and 250. 



Powder. (Fig. 249.) Light brown; odor distinct, heavy, espe- 

 cially marked on heating with water; in addition to the starch 

 grains the most marked characteristic feature is the cells containing 

 the microcrystals which, on clearing the fragments with solutions 

 of potassium hydrate or chloral hydrate, appear in contrast to the 

 surrounding cells in the form of grayish-black cells of various forms; 

 in the broken parenchymatous cells the forms of the crystals are 

 readily distinguished, and are from 0.03 to 0.10 mm. in length; 

 starch grains numerous, from 0.003 to 0.030 mm. in diameter, spheroi- 

 dal, plano-convex, polyhedral, and 2- to 6- or more compound ; frag- 

 ments of cork cells and tracheae with wood fibers few. Occasional 

 fragments of stems showing long thin-walled and slightly lignified 

 bast fibers (Fig. 245). 



Constituents. There are two principal alkaloids hyoscyamine 

 and atropine which together amount from 0.2 to 1 per cent, the 

 proportions of these varying according to the age of the root, the 

 hyoscyamine, however, usually being in excess. The atropine 

 (Fig. 251) appears to be derived from its isomer hyoscyamine and 

 not to preexist in the root; a small amount of scopolamine (hyoscine) 

 is also present. Other alkaloids, as belladonnine, apoatropine, etc., 

 have been isolated, but these are decomposition products of hyo- 

 cyamine. The drug also contains a fluorescent principle, B-methyl 

 sesculetin, considerable starch and calcium oxalate in the form of 

 sphenoidal microcrystals. See also Hyoscyamus, Belladonnse Folia 

 and Stramonium. 



Adulterants. Belladonna root is sometimes admixed with poke 

 root, this admixture is readily detected by the presence of raphides 

 of calcium oxalate (Fig. 85) and the markings of the tracheae (Fig. 

 250). Scopola rhizome is also sometimes added or entirely sub- 

 stituted for belladonna root. For its determination, see Scopola, 

 p. 592. 



Allied Plants. Mandragora or European mandrake is the root 

 of Atropa Mandragora. The drug occurs in fusiform, somewhat 

 bifurcated pieces and contains two mydriatic alkaloids: mandra- 

 gorine (isomeric with atropine) and an alkaloid resembling hyos- 

 cyamine. Around this drug cluster many curious traditions. It 

 was regarded with great veneration by the ancients, who recognized 

 its narcotic properties. 



