176 SEEDS 



Constituents. The principal constituent of henbane seed is the 

 alkaloid hyoscyamine with which is associated a small proportion of 

 scopolamine (hyoscine). 



The total amount of alkaloid is 0-058 per cent. (Ransom, 1891). 

 In addition, the seed contains about 20 per cent, of fixed oil. 



Uses. Henbane seeds are comparatively seldom used in medicine. 

 Thrown upon hot coals they form a domestic remedy for toothache 

 the vapour that arises being allowed to enter the mouth. They have 

 been used as a source of the alkaloid scopolamine. 



DATURA SEEDS 



(Daturas Semina) 



Source, &C. Datura seeds are the dried seeds of Datura fastuosa, 

 Linne, var. alba, Nees (N.O. Solanacece) , an annual plant indigenous 

 to India. 



Description. The seeds are yellowish brown in colour, ear-shaped, 

 4 to 5 mm. broad, about 1 mm. thick, flattened, finely pitted and 

 reticulated ; they are thickened towards the curved margin which 

 is wavy, the edge exhibiting a triple ridge ; the hilum is large and 

 conspicuous, extending from about the middle to the acute end of the 

 seed ; the endosperm is narrow and translucent and encloses a curved 

 embryo ; they. have a bitter taste but no odour. 



Constituents. The chief constituent of the seeds is the alkaloid 

 scopolamine (hyoscine) of which they contain about 0-2 per cent., 

 but traces of hyoscyamine and atropine are also present ; they also 

 contain resin and fixed oil. 



Uses. Used in India as an equivalent of stramonium seed. 



KALADANA 



(Kaladana; Pharbitis Seeds) 



Source, &C. Kaladana consists of the dried seeds of Ipomcea 

 hederacea, Jacquin (N.O. Convolvulacece) , a twining plant with a large, 

 blue corolla resembling the major convolvulus of English gardens, 

 common in the mountains of India. It was formerly called Pharbitis 

 Nil, Choisy, whence the official synonym (Pharbitis is said to have 

 reference to the colour of the corolla and Nil is the Hindustani for 

 blue ; kala-dana in Hindustani means ' black seed ' and has been 

 applied to several other seeds, giving rise to much confusion). 



Description. The seeds resemble in shape the ' quarter ' of an 

 orange, there being two flat sides meeting at an acute angle and an 



