BELLADONNA 359 



(iii) Marshmallow root, which has a radiate wood, in which 

 scattered groups of vessels are not visible, and a fibrous 

 bark. 



Constituents. The principal constituent of belladonna root is the 

 alkaloid hyoscyamine which appears to be accompanied by a little 

 atropine, although it is possible that the atropine found has been 

 produced from hyoscyamine during the process of extraction, a change 

 which is readily effected. Traces of scopolamine appear also to be 

 present, but belladonnine and apoatropine, which are found in the 

 mother liquors from which the other alkaloids have been crystallised, 

 probably do not exist as such in the root, but are formed during the 

 various manipulations in the course of their isolation (compare p. 45). 

 The root also contains /3-methyl-8esculetin (chrysatropic acid, 

 scopoletin), a crystalline fluorescent principle, widely distributed 

 throughout the natural order Solanacece, and found also in gelsemium 

 rhizome and a number of other drugs. 



The total amount of alkaloid that the root contains varies as a 

 rule between 0*4 and 0*6 per cent., but may occasionally rise to I'O 

 per cent. (Cripps). Gerrard has shown that the plant is more active 

 when about four years old than when younger, and that the wild 

 plant is rather richer in alkaloid than the cultivated, while Schmidt's 

 experiments indicate that the roots of young plants contain more 

 alkaloid than those of old plants. The Pharmacopoeia therefore directs 

 the root to be collected in the autumn, and excludes old roots by the 

 limitation of the size and by the description of the transverse section. 



Uses. Belladonna acts as a local anaesthetic and anodyne, and 

 is often applied as such externally. Internally it is given to check 

 the sweating in phthisis, as a sedative to the respiratory nerves, 

 to relieve spasmodic cough, and in numerous other cases. 



Adulterants. Scopola Rhizome. The rhizome of Scopola car- 

 nidlica, Jacquin (N.O. Solanacece) , is not unfrequently found in the 

 belladonna root imported from Germany. The plant grows in the 

 Carpathian Mountains and other parts of Austro-Hungary. It 

 produces a horizontal rhizome from which aerial stems from 30 to 

 60 cm. high arise bearing leaves which resemble belladonna leaves 

 but are thinner, more lanceolate in shape, and taper more towards 

 the base (compare p. 46). The rhizome, which is collected in large 

 quantities and forms an important source of the alkaloids hyoscya- 

 mine, atropine, and scopolamine, may attain 10 cm. or more in length 

 and about 2 cm. in thickness. It is nearly black in colour and tor- 

 tuous, and bears on the upper surface numerous large depressed 

 stem-scars. It contains hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and possibly 

 also atropine, the total alkaloid (0'6 to 0'7 per cent.) somewhat 

 exceeding in amount that present in belladonna root. 



