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BELLADONNA (Atropa belladonna) is well known asa highly poisonous species capable of inducing variouskinds of hallucinations. It entered into the folklore andmythology of virtually all European peoples, who fearedits deadly power. It was one of the ingredients of thetruly hallucinogenic brews and ointments concocted bythe so-called witches of medieval Europe. The attractiveshiny berries of the plant still often cause it to be accidentallyeaten, with resultant poisoning.The name belladonna ("beautiful lady" in Italian)comes from a curious custom practiced by Italianwomen of high society during medieval times. Theywould drop the sap of the plant into the eye to dilatethe pupil enormously, inducing a kind of drunken orglassy stare, considered in that period to enhancefeminine beauty and sensuality.The main active principle in belladonna is the alkaloidhyoscyamine, but the more psychoactive scopolamineis also present. Atropine has also been found, butwhether it is present in the living plant or is formedduring extraction is not clear. Belladonna is a commercialsource of atropine, an alkaloid with a wide variety ofuses in modern medicine, especially as an antisposmodic,an antisecretory, and as a mydriatic and cardiac stimulant.The alkaloids occur throughout the plant but areconcentrated especially in the leaves and roots.There are four species of Atropa distributed inEurope and from central Asia to the Himalayas. Atropabelongs to the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Belladonnais native to Europe and Asia Minor. Until the19th century, commercial collection was primarily fromwild sources, but since that time cultivation has beeninitiated in the United States, Europe, and India, whereit is an important source of medicinal drugs.46