Datura metel
What's the taxonomical classification of Datura metel?
Datura metei belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta. Within this lineage, it is categorized under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. Following its taxonomic progression, the plant falls under the order Solanales and is a member of the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Datura and the specific species metel.
| Taxonomic Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Solanales |
| Family | Solanaceae |
| Genus | Datura |
| Species | metel |
What are the morphological characteristics of this plant?
Datura metel has an erect, herbaceous growth habit characterized by hollow, branched stems and large, ovate to lanceolate leaves with wavy or coarsely toothed margins. The foliage is typically bright green and can grow quite large depending on the available nutrients. Its most striking feature is the large, trumpet-shaped flowers that are white or pale lavender and bloom primarily at night. These blossoms emerge from the leaf axils and possess a long, tubular corolla. Following pollination, the plant produces distinctive, spiny, egg-shaped seed capsules that contain numerous small, dark seeds.
What is the geographical distribution of this plant?
This plant is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, spanning from the southern United States through Central America and down into South America. It has since become naturalized in various warm climates across the globe, including parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia. Because it thrives in disturbed soils and sunny environments, it often appears in waste areas and along roadsides in many different countries. Its ability to adapt to diverse tropical landscapes has allowed it to spread far beyond its original evolutionary boundaries. This widespread presence makes it a common sight in many non-native ecosystems worldwide.
How is this plant cultivated?
This plant Datura metel requires well-drained, fertile soil and full sunlight to thrive in warm climates.
You should sow the seeds directly into the ground once the soil has warmed in late spring. Because it grows rapidly, providing ample space for its large leaves and upright stems is essential to prevent overcrowding. Regular watering is necessary to keep the soil moist, though you must ensure it does not become waterlogged.
Be cautious during cultivation because all parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested.
What parts of this plant are used medicinally?
This plant Datura metel provides medicinal utility through its leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and roots, which all contain potent tropane alkaloids. The leaves and flowers are often prepared as topical applications to soothe inflammatory skin conditions or as infusions for pain relief. Its seeds and fruits are highly concentrated with alkaloids and are used with extreme caution in traditional practices for their sedative properties. The roots serve as a powerful source of active compounds used in specific herbal formulations to treat respiratory or neurological ailments. Because every part of the plant is toxic in high doses, these medicinal applications require precise knowledge and careful preparation.
According to a study published by "Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin", the seeds, flowers, and leaves of Datura metel varieties can be utilized as sources of scopolamine. The scopolamine content as a % of dry weight in the seeds ranged from 0.294 in var. rubra to 0.631 in var. fastuosa. In the flowers, the scopolamine content was measured between 0.190 in var. metel and 0.698 in var. rubra. The leaves contained scopolamine levels ranging from 0.042 in var. rubra to 0.255 in var. metel. These findings confirm that all varieties, including var. muricata which exhibited a medium scopolamine content, are useful sources.
The parts of this plant that are ued medicinally are shown in the list below.
- leaves
- flower
- fruits
- seeds
- root
What traditional systems uses this plant?
This plant, Datura metel, has been utilized historically in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine for its potent pharmacological properties and sedative effects. In the Ayurvedic tradition, the plant is often employed to manage pain and treat various inflammatory conditions through its alkaloid content. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners have historically used its components to address ailments related to the respiratory and nervous systems. Because the plant contains highly toxic tropane alkaloids, its historical application required extreme precision and expert knowledge to avoid fatal poisoning. These ancient medical systems recognized its powerful psychoactive and analgesic potential while maintaining strict protocols for its administration.
According to a study published by "Drug and chemical toxicology", Datura metei L. is a poisonous medicinal plant used safely in Ayurveda after the Shodhana detoxification method. This plant is listed in Schedule E1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act as a poisonous medicinal plant that requires cautious use. While Ashodhita Datura metel exhibited neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity with a NOAEL of 25 mg/kg, the Shodhita version was found to be safe with a NOAEL of 100 mg/kg. The Shodhana purification process was found to be effective in mitigating toxicity.
The hystorical systems that uses this plant are shown in the list below.
- Ayurveda
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
What are the pharmacological activities of Datura metel?
This plant has anticholinergic, hallucinogenic, neurotoxic, antispasmodic, and analgesic pharmacological activities derived primarily from its tropane alkaloid content. The presence of hyoscyamine and scopolamine allows the species to function as an effective antispasmodic and analgesic by inhibiting muscle contractions and blocking pain signals. However, these same alkaloids trigger potent anticholinergic effects that can lead to profound hallucinogenic experiences. Because of its high potency, the consumption of Datura metel can result in severe neurotoxic consequences for the central nervous system. Careful study of these chemical properties is essential due to the narrow margin between therapeutic potential and extreme toxicity.
According to a study published by "Journal of ethnopharmacology", Datura metel exerts anticholinergic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, and provides protection from organophosphate poisoning. In the treatment of Parkinson's disease, it is used for motor sickness and bradycardia. Chronic administration of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of Datura metel extract improved the 14-s latency time induced by haloperidol to 54, 54, and 57 s respectively. Furthermore, the descending times for haloperidol-induced cataleptic mice were significantly reduced from 110 s to 17.7, 17.7, and 12.5 s by the respective chronic doses of the extract. These effects are attributed to the synergistic inhibition of alpha-synuclein and dopa decarboxylase by phytoconstituents such as atropine and scopoalamine.
The primary pharmacological activities of this plant are shown in the list below.
- anticholinergic
- hallucinogenic
- neurotoxic
- antispasmodic
- analgesiic
What medicinal compounds this plant contains?
This plant contains several potent tropane alkaloids, most notably atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and hyoscine. These medicinal compounds are chemically related and exert powerful effects on the central and peripheral nervous systems. Historically, these substances have been utilized in pharmacology to treat conditions like muscle spasms and certain types of digestive issues. Because of their high toxicity, they must be carefully measured to avoid severe physiological complications. The concentration of these specific alkaloids can vary significantly depending on the plant's environmental conditions and maturity.
According to a study published by "Journal of ethnopharmacology", Datura metel is a medicinal plant containing active phytoconstituents with neuropharmacological potentials such as atropine and scopolamine. The methanolic extract of Datura metel was administered at chronic doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg to improve motor coordination. These doses improved the 14-s latency time induced by haloperidol to 54, 54, and 57 s respectively, compared to 47 s produced by levodopa at 30 mg/kg. Furthermore, descending times for haloperidol-induced cataleptic mice were reduced from 110 s to 17.7, 17.7, and 12.5 s by the respective doses of the extract. This reduction was significant when compared to levodopa-administered mice that spent 17.5 s descending a 30 cm pole.
The primary medicinal compounds of this plant are shown in the list below.
- atropine
- hyoscine
- hyoscyamine
- scopolamine
- tropane alkaloids
What health conditions is this plant used for?
This plant is used for treating neurological ailments, Parkinson's disease, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, and various types of pains. Its alkaloids act on the central nervous system to manage symptoms related to movement disorders. The medicinal properties of the plant are also applied to relax the airways in patients suffering from respiratory issues like asthma and bronchitis. Additionally, its analgesic effects are utilized to alleviate persistent physical pains. Careful administration is required due to the potent nature of these bioactive compounds.
According to a study published by "Journal of ethnopharmacology", Datura metel is used in traditional medicine for its anticholinergic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. It is involved in the pharmacotherapy of Parkinson's disease, including the treatment of motor sickness and bradycardia, as well as protection from organophosphate poisoning. In behavioral tests, chronic administration of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of the extract improved the 14-s latency time induced by haloperidol to 54, 54, and 57 s respectively. Furthermore, descending times for haloperidol-induced cataleptic mice were significantly reduced from 110 s to 17.7, 17.7, and 12.5 s by those same respective doses. These results were compared to levodopa at 30 mg/kg, which produced a 47 s time in rotarod tests and 17.5 s descending a 30 cm pole.
The main health conditions this plant is used for are shown in the list below.
- Parkinson's disease
- bronchial asthma
- chronic bronchitis
- neurological ailments
- pains
What are the herbal preparations of this plant?
This plant is Datura metel, which is utilized in various medicinal herbal preparations such as Daturae Flos and Datura metel flower extract. Practitioners often use the dried flowers to create specific therapeutic formulations. These botanicals can be processed into methanolic extracts to concentrate their active alkaloids. Additionally, some traditional methods involve preparing an herbal tea from the plant material. Each method serves a different purpose in the administration of its potent chemical constituents.
According to a study published by "Analytica chimica acta", Datura metel flower extract was analyzed using a sawtooth TLC-ESI/MS system. The analysis involved a 4.8 cm long TLC track that was cut into 32 triangles on two sawtooth pieces. This method provided a spatial resolution of 1.5 mm/band for the scanning process. While alkaloids such as scopolamine and norscopolamine from the Datura metel flower extract were not visualized on the TLC track, they were successfully detected at different triangular tips. The limits of detection for the dye standards used in the study were between 0.25 and 2.5 ng/band. Using these results, the Rf values of scopolamine and norscopolamine were determined.
The main herbal preparations of this plant are shown in the list below.
- Datura metel flower extract
- Daturae Flos
- Methanolic extracts
- dried flowers
- herbal tea
What side effects this plant can have?
This plant can cause severe anticholinergic poisoning through the ingestion of its toxic alkaloids. The primary physiological reactions include mydriasis, which leads to extreme pupil dilation and blurred vision. Patients often experience tachycardia, a dangerously rapid heart rate, as the body struggles to maintain stability. Intense neurological symptoms such as vivid hallucinations and profound delirium can cause a complete loss of contact with reality. These combined side effects make the plant highly dangerous to human health.
According to a study published by "Bulletin de la Societe de pathologie exotique (1990)", Datura metel can cause voluntary intoxication through the consumption of dried flowers or an herbal tea mixed with seeds. The alkaloids produce an atropine-like effect resulting in neurological signs such as agitation, delirium, disorientation, hallucination, mydriasis, and retention of urine. Other noticeable signs include fever, dry mouth, tachycardia, and thirstiness. In the reported cases among teenagers in Niamey, the patients left the hospital between D2 and D4. While recovery usually leads to no sequels, the prognosis may be fatal during massive intoxications.
The main side effects this plant can have are shown in the list below.
- delirium
- hallucination
- mydriasis
- tachycardia
- anticholinergic poisoning
What herbs are paired with Datura metel?
This plant Datura metel is traditionally paired with herbs like mugwort, belladonna, and mandrake in various historical ethnobotanical preparations.
These combinations are often used in ritualistic contexts to enhance the perceived potency of the plant's alkaloids. Practitioners frequently blend it with aromatic herbs such as lavender or sage to alter the sensory profile of an infusion. Some folklore also suggests mixing it with various roots to balance its intense physiological effects.
Such pairings are documented primarily in ancient texts and specialized occult studies rather than modern medicine.