Datura stramonium
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Datura stramonium Common Names: Stink Weed, Thorn Apple, Devil's
Trumpet, Jimsonweed, Devil's Snare, Moonflower Scientific
Classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Asterids Order: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Tribe: Daturae Genus: Datura Species: D. stramonium Binomial Name: Datura stramonium L. Synonyms: Datura bernhardii Lundstr., Datura bertolonii Parl. ex Guss., Datura cabanesii P.Fourn., Datura capensis Bernh., Datura ferocissima Cabanès & P.Fourn., Datura ferox Nees 1834, Datura hybrida Ten., Datura inermis Juss. ex Jacq., Datura laevis L.f., Datura loricata Sieber ex Bernh., Datura lurida Salisb., Datura microcarpa Godr., Datura muricata Godr. 1873, Datura parviflora Salisb., Datura praecox Godr., Datura pseudostramonium Sieber ex Bernh., Datura tatula L., Datura wallichii Dunal, Stramonium foetidum Scop., Stramonium laeve Moench, Stramonium spinosum Lam., Stramonium tatula Moench, Stramonium vulgare Moench, Stramonium vulgatum Gaertn. Morphological Description Datura stramonium is an erect, annual herb, growing 60–150 cm tall, with a
foul odor when bruised. Key features include: · Stem: Stout, smooth, pale yellow-green to reddish-purple, forking
repeatedly · Leaves: Ovate, 8–20 cm long, 5–15 cm wide, irregularly toothed, dark
green above, paler beneath · Flowers: Trumpet-shaped, white to violet, 6–9 cm long, fragrant,
blooming summer to fall · Fruit: Spiny, ovoid capsule, 3–5 cm long, green turning brown,
containing 50–100 black seeds The plant’s bitter taste
persists in dried leaves, reflecting its alkaloid content (Schultes &
Hofmann, 1979). Distribution and Habitat Datura stramonium likely originated in Central America but is now naturalized
globally across temperate and tropical regions. It thrives in: · Regions: Disturbed soils, roadsides, pastures, waste areas, dung-rich
sites · Climate: Warm, sunny, 20–35°C, rainfall 500–1,200 mm annually · Soil: Well-drained, sandy to loamy, pH 6.0–7.5 · Elevation: Sea level to 2,000 m It is an invasive weed
in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia (Preissel & Preissel,
2002). Ethnopharmacology Datura stramonium has a rich history in traditional medicine, supported by
pharmacological studies: · Analgesic: Leaf extracts in Nigeria relieve toothache; DSL-EA exhibited prominent in vitro NO
scavenging (IC50: 7.625 ± 0.51 μg/mL) and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity in
paw and anal edema models. In CCl4 model, hematological investigations revealed
vasotonic effects (Nasir et al., 2022). · Anodyne/Antispasmodic: Seeds in India ease muscle spasms;
scopolamine relaxes smooth muscle in rats (IC₅₀ 0.15 µg/mL) (Soni et al.,
2012). · Sedative: Leaf infusions in Mexico induce sleep; atropine depresses
CNS in rabbits (ED₅₀ 1 mg/kg) (Gaire & Subedi, 2013). · Anti-inflammatory: Leaf paste in Ethiopia reduces swelling;
extracts inhibit edema in rats (38% at 250 mg/kg) (Nasir et al., 2022). · Antiasthmatic: Smoked leaves in Ayurveda ease breathing; The smoke from the burning leaf is inhaled for
the relief of asthma and bronchitis. The use of Datura stramonium for asthma
treatment and its potential impact on prenatal development was investigated.
When a pregnant woman consumes D. stramonium for asthma, the fetus is exposed
to the herb, leading to a continuous release of acetylcholine. This prolonged
exposure can desensitize nicotinic receptors, potentially causing irreversible
harm to the fetus. Consequently, we recommend that this African herbal remedy
be used with caution during pregnancy (Pretorius E, et al., 2006). · Hallucinogenic: Seeds in shamanic rituals (Americas)
induce visions; tropane alkaloids cause delirium (Schultes & Hofmann,
1979). Phytochemistry Medicinal and toxic
effects are due to bioactive compounds: · Tropane Alkaloids: Atropine, scopolamine, hyoscyamine—hallucinogenic,
anticholinergic (Soni et al., 2012) · Flavonoids: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory (Nasir et al., 2022) · Tannins: Astringent, antimicrobial (Gaire & Subedi, 2013) · Glycosides: Cardiac effects, analgesic (Nasir et al., 2022) ⚠ Toxicity Profile: All parts are highly toxic due to tropane
alkaloids. LD₅₀ in rats: 100 mg/kg (seeds). Symptoms include delirium,
tachycardia, mydriasis, hyperthermia, and coma. Fatal in doses as low as 10–15
seeds (0.1–1 g) in humans. Avoid use without expert supervision (Gaire &
Subedi, 2013). Additional Uses · Ritualistic: Entheogen in sacred ceremonies (Schultes & Hofmann,
1979) · Economic: Historical use in varnishes (resin); limited modern
application · Legal Status: Controlled in many regions (e.g., USA, UK) due to toxicity · Ecological: Invasive, outcompetes native flora References
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