Isn't Belladonna poison?

Answer 1

Yes! It is a deadly poison ; but at the same time it is beneficial as well!!

Kindly click the link below to learn much more about this plant which is known as Atropa belladonna in the botanical terms.

The alkaloid 'atropine' is labelled as such from its generic name Atropa.

The link--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropa_belladonna


Edit- Some body says it is just a narcotic with out referring to any thing. I am quoting below a para from the wikipedia about the toxicity of that plant. Believe it or not. It is your concern.

" Toxicity of Atropa belladonna

Berries of the belladonna.

Belladonna is one of the most toxic plants found in the Western hemisphere.
Children have been poisoned by eating as few as three berries.
Ingestion of a leaf of the Belladonna can be fatal to an adult. The root of the plant is generally the most toxic part, though this can vary from one specimen to another.

All parts of the plant contain tropane alkaloids.
The berries pose the greatest danger to children because they look attractive and have a somewhat sweet taste.

Symptoms of belladonna poisoning are the same as those for atropine (the best-known of the tropane alkaloids), and include dilated pupils, tachycardia, hallucinations, blurred vision, loss of balance, a feeling of flight, staggering, a sense of suffocation, paleness followed by a red rash, flushing, husky voice, extremely dry throat, constipation, urinary retention, and confusion. The skin can completely dry out and slough off.

Fatal cases have a rapid pulse that turns feeble. The antidote is physostigmine or pilocarpine, the same as for atropine.

The reason for most of these symptoms is atropine's effect on the parasympathetic nervous system. Atropine competitively inhibits the action of acetylcholine (ACh) at the acetylcholine receptor in the nerve synapse, thereby preventing the parasympathetic nervous system from sending out electrical nerve impulses. Since the parasympathetic nervous system regulates non-volitional/subconscious activities (such as sweating, breathing, and heart rate) when it is prevented from sending out signals, the heartbeat and breathing become extremely irregular.

The Belladonna is toxic to many domestic animals and livestock; Belladonna poisoning can lead to colic, depression, weakness, and lack of coordination in horses, with fatalities reported even for small amounts from 1 to 10 pounds (0.5 to 5 kg). " the quote ends here.

Answer 2

yes, usually most of the plants with "medicinal uses" can also potentionally be a poison. Belladonna is what they put in your eyes at the eye doctor to dialate your pupils. the word bella means beautiful and donna means woman. women used to use the plant to dialate their pupils to make them look more attractive.

Answer 3

Yes, it is. And it has medical uses, too. It can cure people as well as kill people.

Answer 4

not really,
its a narcotic that makes you sleepy