Scopolia

Family Solanaceae (Nightshade Family); Subfamily Solanoideae, Hyoscyameae Tribe, Hyoscyaminae Subtribe Forms and Subspecies Three to five species are now accepted botanically in the genus (D'Arcy 1991, 79*; Lu 1986, 6*). A number of varieties of Scopolia carniolica have been described: Scopolia carniolica Jacq. var. brevifolia Dun. Scopolia carniolica Jacq. var. carniolica Scopolia carniolica Jacq. var. concolor Dun. Scopolia carniolica Jacq. var. hladnikiana (Fleischm.) Fiori Scopolia carniolica Jacq. var. longifolia Dun. A new form that has pure yellow flowers and is found only in Slovenia (Hladnikov) has recently been described (Dakshobler 1996): Scopolia carniolica Jacq. forma hladnikiana Synonyms Hyoscyamus scopolia L. Scopolia hladnikiana Fleischm. Scopolia longifolia Dun. Scopolina atropoides Schultes Scopolina hladnikiana Freyer Scopolina viridiflora Freyer Folk Names Altsitzerkraut, deewa sales, durna rope (Lithuanian, "crazy root"), glockenbilsenkraut, gotteskraut, krainer tollkraut, matragun (Romanian),289 mauda, maulda, pikt-rope ("evil root"),290 pometis ropes ("pometis root"), Russian belladonna, scopolia (Italian), scopolie, skopolia, skopolie, tollkraut, tollriibe, volCic, walkenbaum History It is uncertain whether scopolia was known to the authors of antiquity. The "sleeping strychnos" (Strychnos hypnoticos) of Dioscorides (cf. Solanum spp.) has sometimes been interpreted as a Scopolia species (Fuhner 1919,223). The genus was named for the naturalist Antonio ScopoH (1723-1788), who was the first to study and describe the flora of Slovenia (Festi 1996, 35). In Slovenia, the plant may once have been used to prepare witches' ointments. In eastern Prussia, the root of the plant was used as a folk inebriant and aphrodisiac. It is said that women would use it to persuade young men to become their willing lovers. Sometimes some of the root was added to a person's coffee (Coftea arabica) as a practical joke so that others could amuse themselves on the seemingly nonsensical behavior of the inebriated victim (Fuhner 1919). In the history of pharmaceuticals, Scopolia has played only a minor role as a substitute or counterfeit for belladonna root (Atropa belladonna) and belladonna leaves (Schneider 1974,3:240*). Today, the plant is used in the industrial manufacture of L-hyoscyamine and atropine (Wagner 1985, 172*). Distribution The plant occurs wild in the Alps, the Carpathian Mountains, and the Caucasus Mountains (Gelencir 1983, 217). It also grows in southeastern Europe (Slovenia), Lithuania, Latvia, and the Ukraine. Cultivation Cultivation is very simple. In spring, the seeds are sown into seedbeds to germinate. Later, the seedlings can be transplanted to the desired location. The plant does not tolerate a great deal of exposure to the sun (Festi 1996, 36), preferring dark, humid forests and calciferous humus soil. In Lithuania and Latvia, it has long been planted in gardens for use as a medicinal plant. Appearance This annual plant, which is typically 30 to 60 em in height but can grow as tall as 80 em, develops a fleshy, spindle-shaped root. The dull green leaves resemble those of the belladonna plant (Atropa belladonna)-hence the name Russian belladonna. The small, pendulous, campanulate flowers are purple to pale yellow in color and are similar in shape to henbane flowers (Hyoscyamus albus)hence the German name glockenbilsenkraut ("bell henbane"). The plant flowers from April to June. The fruit develops a capsule with a double partition and many small seeds. Scopolia is easily confused with Chinese scopolia (Scopolia carniolicoides C.W. Wu et C. Chen) and Japanese scopolia (Scopolia japonica Maxim.). Scopolia anomala (Link et Otto) Airy Shaw [syn. Scopolia lurida Dun.], which is native to Nepal and Sikkim, is about twice as large as the European scopolia (Weinert 1972). Psychoactive Material - Root (rhizoma scopoliae, scopoliae radix, scopolia root, glockenbilsenkrautwurzel, europaische scopoliawurzel) - Herbage (herba et radix scopoliae carniolicae)

Preparation and Dosage The fresh root, when boiled and grated, can be eaten as a mush or taken in coffee (Coftea arabica). It also is added to beer or brewed with it in order to potentiate its effects (Fuhner 1919,224). The root and the rootstock (scopoliae radix et rhizoma) are used. The root is dug up, dried, and used exactly as the belladonna root. Taste, color, and appearance are exactly like belladonna. Many plant collectors confuse the bell henbane with belladonna [Atropa belladonna], which is why one always finds scopolia mixed into belladonna, especially when the belladonna is from the Carpathians. (Gelencir 1983,217) The dried herbage, collected while the plant is in flower, can be smoked alone or in smoking blends.Ritual Use In eastern Prussia, Lithuania, and the Balkans, scopolia formerly was collected and used in magic in the same manner as mandrake (Mandragora officinarum). In the early twentieth century, only rudiments of this ritual use were still being practiced (Fiihner 1919).Artifacts See Mandragora officinarum. Scopolia anomala is depicted on Tibetan medical thangkas (Aris 1992,67*). Medicinal Use Scopolia carniolica was used in eastern European folk medicine in the same manner as Mandragora officinarum (Schneider 1974,3:240*). In Lithuania, the plant was used to treat rheumatism, gout, toothaches, colic, and Parkinson's disease; as a sedative for children and an aphrodisiac; and to induce abortions (Fiihner 1919,224). In homeopathy, the essence obtained from the fresh-blooming herbage is known as Hyoscyamus scopolia and is used in accordance with the medical description (Schneider 1974,3:240*). Constituents The entire plant contains hallucinogenic tropane alkaloids (Evans 1979, 249*). The total alkaloid content averages around 0.50/0 but can range from 0.3 to 0.80/0 (Fiihner 1919, 223; Roth et al. 1994, 648*). The dried leaves contain 0.19% hyoscyamine and 0.13% scopolamine (Scholten et al. 1989). The root contains approximately 0.50/0 scopolamine (Gelencir 1983, 218). Also present are the alkaloids cuscohygrine, tropine, and 3atigloyloxytropane. Chemotaxonomically, Scopolia is thus closely related to henbane (Hyoscyamus spp.) (Evans 1979,249*; Zito and Leary 1966). The alkaloid content of the dried roots can be as high as 1% (Wagner 1985, 172*). In addition to the alkaloids, the entire plant also contains the coumarins scopoline and scopoletin as well as chlorogenic acid (Roth et al. 1994, 648*). Effects Few documents describing the actual effects of scopolia are available (Festi 1996). Depending upon dosages, all preparations are capable of producing psychoactive effects that are very similar to those produced by henbane. Low doses induce aphrodisiac sensations, whereas "larger quantities of the root are inebriating and produce a condition associated with unpredictable, comic actions" (Fiihner 1919, 224). High doses have been observed to produce delirium, loss of awareness of reality, coma, severe pupillary dilation, headache, disturbances of coordination, and other symptoms typical of an overdose of Atropa belladonna. Smoking the leaves produces only very mild psychoactive effects that are comparable with those resulting from smoking Hyoscyamus niger or Datura stramonium. Commercial Forms and Regulations The herbage and roots can sometimes be found in eastern European herb shops. The seeds are occasionally available from ethnobotanical specialty sources. Literature See also the entries for coumarins, scopolamine, scopoletin, and tropane alkaloids. Dakskobler, Igor. 1996. Hladnikov volCic (Scopolia carniolica f. hladnikiana) tudi v Zelenem potoku. Proteus 58:102-3. Festi, Francesco. 1996. Scopolia carniolica Jacq. Eleusis 5:34-45. Fiihner, Hermann. 1919. Scopoliawurzel als Gift und Heilmittel bei Litauen und Letten. Therapeutische Monatshefte 33:221-27. Gelencir, Nikola. 1983. Naturheilkunde des Balkans. Steyr, Austria: Verlag Wilhem Ennsthaler. Scholten, H. J., S. Batterman, and J. F. Visser. 1989. Formation of hyoscyamine in cell cultures of Scopolia carniolica. Planta Medica 55:230. Weinert, E. 1972. Zur Taxonomie und Chorologie der Gattung Scopolia Jacq. Feddes Repertorium 82 (10): 617-28. Zito, S. W., and J. D. Leary. 1966. Alkaloids of Scopolia carniolica. Journal ofPharmaceutical Sciences 55:1150-51.