What is the drug atropine used for?
Atropine is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of low heart rate (bradycardia), reduce salivation and bronchial secretions before surgery or as an antidote for overdose of cholinergic drugs or mushroom poisoning.
Which plant is source of atropine?
The naturally occurring muscarinic receptor antagonists atropine and scopolamine are alkaloids of the belladonna (Solanaceae) plants. Preparations of belladonna were known to the ancient Hindus and have long been used by physicians.
Is atropine derived from a plant?
Atropine is one of the oldest known poisons, with references to plant extracts that contain it going back to the Ebers papyrus of 1550 B.C. Its name derives from the plant which produces it, Atropa belladonna, or deadly nightshade.
What is the action of atropine?
Atropine reduces secretions in the mouth and respiratory passages, relieves the constriction and spasm of the respiratory passages, and may reduce the paralysis of respiration, which results from actions of the toxic agent on the central nervous system.
Does atropine cause drowsiness?
This medicine may cause drowsiness, blurred vision, or make your eyes sensitive to light. Wear sunglasses while you are using this medicine. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not drive until your pupils are no longer dilated.
Is Datura a belladonna?
18 Belladonna. Atropine and scopolamine9 are the two most important belladonna alkaloids. These alkaloids are associated not only with Atropa belladonna, which produces mostly atropine,9 but also with other solanaceous plants such as Datura stramonium (Jimsonweed), Hyoscyamus niger (henbane), and Scopolia carniolica.
Which plant’s berries contain atropine?
All the plants in this section contain atropine. The most common are Atropa belladonna (commonly called deadly nightshade or enchanter’s nightshade), Datura stramonium (commonly called thorn apple, jimson weed or angel’s trumpet), and Hyoscyamus niger (commonly called henbane).
Is belladonna a Datura?
Deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna; jimson weed or “loco weed” (Datura spp.); angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia spp.); and henbane (Hyoscyanus niger) are the sources of several hallucinogenic and potentially lethal tropane alkaloids scopolamine, atropine, and hyoscyamine (Figure 1.7).
Why do plants produce atropine?
Atropine, used to dilate the pupils of the eye, and the addictive drug cocaine are both tropane alkaloids which possess two distinctive, inter-connecting five- and seven-membered rings. Plants commonly produce tropane and other alkaloids for protection against herbivores and other enemies.
Is atropine a sedative?
Sedation is a side-effect of atropine. Some patients who received atropine as a preanesthetic medication and also during surgery for several episodes of bradycardia remained somnolent several hours postoperatively.
How is AtroPen used in the GI system?
Uses of AtroPen: 1 It is used to treat some poisonings. 2 In surgery, it is used to lower secretions such as saliva. 3 It is used to treat muscle spasms of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract, gallbladder system, or urinary system. 4 It is used when the heart is not beating.
Are there any side effects to taking AtroPen?
Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away: Blurred eyesight. If bright lights bother your eyes. Constipation. Less sweating. Dizziness. Headache. Dry mouth.
What kind of plants produce scopolamine and atropine?
Among them, plants from Datura genus produce significant amounts of scopolamine and hyoscyamine; the latter undergoes racemization to atropine during isolation. Because of their biological importance, toxic properties a …
What kind of alkaloids are in atropine leaves?
Extraction of dried leaves and roots of Atropa belladonna L., Solanaceae, growing in Southern and Central Europe, Asia Minor, and Algeria and clutivated in North America, yields atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine. Leaves usually contain 0.3-0.5% total alkaloids.