Alkaloid
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| - | # a [[plant]], ''[[Atropa belladonna]]'', having [[purple]] [[bell]]-[[shaped]] [[flower]]s and [[poisonous]] [[black]] [[glossy]] [[berries]]; [[deadly nightshade]] | ||
| - | # an [[alkaloid]] extracted from this plant, sometimes used [[medicinally]], containing [[atropine]] | ||
| - | == Folklore == | ||
| - | In the past, it was believed that [[witches]] used a mixture of belladonna, [[opium poppy]], and other plants, typically poisonous (such as [[monkshood]] and [[poison hemlock]]) in [[flying ointment]] they applied to help them fly to gatherings with other witches. [[Carlo Ginzburg]] and others have argued that flying ointments were preparations meant to encourage hallucinatory dreaming; a possible explanation for the inclusion of belladonna and opium poppy in flying ointments concerns the known antagonism between tropane alkaloids of belladonna (specifically [[scopolamine]]) and opiate alkaloids in the opium poppy, ''[[Papaver somniferum]]'' (specifically morphine), which produces a dream-like waking state. This antagonism was known in folk medicine, discussed in eclectic (botanical) medicine formularies The antagonism between opiates and tropanes is the original basis of the [[Twilight Sleep]] that was provided to [[Queen Victoria]] to deaden pain as well as consciousness during childbirth, and which was later modified so that isolated alkaloids were used instead of plant materials. The belladonna herb was also notable for its unpredictable effects from toxicity. | ||
| + | '''Alkaloids''' are naturally occurring [[chemical compound]]s containing [[base (chemistry)|basic]] [[nitrogen]] atoms. The name derives from the word [[alkaline]] and was used to describe any nitrogen-containing base. Alkaloids are produced by a large variety of organisms, including [[bacteria]], [[fungus|fungi]], [[plant]]s, and [[animal]]s and are part of the group of [[natural products]] (also called [[secondary metabolite]]s). Many alkaloids can be purified from crude extracts by [[acid-base extraction]]. Many alkaloids are [[toxicity|toxic]] to other organisms. They often have [[pharmacology|pharmacological]] effects and are used as [[medication]]s, as [[recreational drug]]s, or in [[entheogenic]] rituals. Examples are the [[local anesthetic]] and [[stimulant]] [[cocaine]], the stimulant [[caffeine]], [[nicotine]], the [[analgesic]] [[morphine]], or the [[antimalarial drug]] [[quinine]]. Some alkaloids have a [[Bitter (taste)#Bitterness|bitter taste]]. | ||
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Alkaloids are naturally occurring chemical compounds containing basic nitrogen atoms. The name derives from the word alkaline and was used to describe any nitrogen-containing base. Alkaloids are produced by a large variety of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals and are part of the group of natural products (also called secondary metabolites). Many alkaloids can be purified from crude extracts by acid-base extraction. Many alkaloids are toxic to other organisms. They often have pharmacological effects and are used as medications, as recreational drugs, or in entheogenic rituals. Examples are the local anesthetic and stimulant cocaine, the stimulant caffeine, nicotine, the analgesic morphine, or the antimalarial drug quinine. Some alkaloids have a bitter taste.
