Atropa
Atropa, commonly known as deadly nightshade, is a highly toxic perennial herb belonging to the Solanaceae family. Renowned for its dark berries and bell-shaped flowers, it contains potent alkaloids like atropine. While historically significant in folklore and medicine, its extreme toxicity requires cautious handling and expert pharmacological application.
- Scientific name: Atropa
- Family: Solanaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Ultimately, this medicinal species is identified by the genus Atropa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Solanales | WCVP |
| Family | Solanaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Atropa | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range extends through the coastal landscapes of Denmark and the islands of Great Britain. It can also be found inhabiting the natural environments of Ireland and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is documented within Middle Europe. Specifically, its geographical distribution includes the mountainous and temperate areas of Austria.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
Chemicals
Atropa has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include hyoscyamine, scopolamine.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| hyoscyamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| scopolamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |