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Belladonna root Details & Specifications |
| Useful
Link |
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| Botanical Name |
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Atropa belladonna Linn. |
| English Name |
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Belladonna root |
| Hindi Name |
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Angurshefa |
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| CATEGORY |
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Purgative |
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| SOURCE |
| Part used |
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State of the part used |
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Root |
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N/A |
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N/A |
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| FAMILY |
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Solanaceae |
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| GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE |
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The plant is indigenous to Europe and is found in following countries:-
Central and Southern Europe
England
Europe
India
USA
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| IDENTIFICATION |
| Organoleptic characteristics |
| Colour |
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| Odour |
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Slight and unpleasant |
| Taste |
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Bitter |
| Size |
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Leaves are 5 to 25 cm. long and 2.5 to 12.5 cm. wide. The surface is slightly hairy and the lamina is somewhat decurrent down the petiole. Corolla is purple and about 2.5 cm. long and 1.2 cm. wide and has 5 small reflexed lobes |
| Physical
Standards |
| Total Ash |
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N/A |
| Moisture |
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N/A |
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| CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS |
| Major |
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Major chemical constituents responsible for physicochemical and therapeutic action of the herb are :-
Alkaloid - hyoscyamine
Scopoletin
Chrysotropic acid
Belladine
/p>
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| Minor |
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Minor chemical constituents of this herb are :-
Volatile bases
Pyridine
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| CULTIVATION |
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The roots are collected from plants which have been grown to yield belladonna herb and they are removed from the ground by ploughing up the field at the end of the season in the autumn when the plants are three or four years old. The aerial stems bases are removed and the roots are washed to make them free from early matter. They are cut into convenient lengths and the larger ones are sliced longitudinally. They are then dried in a shed by artificial heat at about 400 to 500C until they are hard enough to snap across cleanly when bent.
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| STORAGE |
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To maintain physicochemical properties and medicinal values of the herb it is recommended to maintain following storage conditions:-
Air tight containers
Protection from light
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