Are the Dark Ripe Berries on a Deadly Nightshade Plant Edible?

Question

I know, I know, this seems like a stupid question. But I read somewhere that you might be able to eat the ripe, dark berries on a deadly nightshade plant, and it may have medicinal effects rather than toxic effects.

I know for sure that the unripened green berries are poisonous-- thus the name: "deadly" nightshade.

But maybe they're both poisonous and I should just stay away... But curiousity demands that I ask the question!

I realize how ridiculous this might sound on the surface, but please don't just say "no" without explaining why, citing texts, or giving expert credentials / experience to back up your knowledge.

I have read anecdotal reports that the berries are not poisonous but edible, while the seeds are toxic. . . .

I have also read anecdotal evidence that these berries might be beneficial...

SAMI: I appreciate your knowledge about this. Thanks for the answer. :) I wasn't aware that the berries contained such a potent poison!

Do you know if the poison is contained the meaty part of the berries, or just in the seeds contained therein? (Like, if you were able to separate seed from the meaty portion, would the poison still be present?)

Answer 1

!!!correction to orange:atrophy and atropine are totally unrelated to each other! it is not atroPHine, is it??? the atropine is called so due to its property of being able to widen your pupils, while atrophy means shrinking or wasting away.

more about atropine:
medical use od the spectrum of nightshade toxins are numerous and include this use: the atropine eyedrops are used before detailled examination of the eye retina. your vision gets blurred and you must avoid sunlight as your pupils cannot retract in response to light (had this done twice)

. this eye widening effect used to be abused by women - to get sexier eyes, moist and wide - in the past. when you eat the berries your eyes widen too, but you also feel sick, so the eydrops are more convenient

some say that you can get somehow "high" if you eat nightshade - that is IF you call this a medicinal effect..

the toxins are in the flesh as well

Answer 2

Nightshade Berries Edible

Answer 3

The plant berries and all parts of the nightshade plant contain the deadly poison belladonna or atropine. It is used in small amounts as a medicine to counteract insecticide poisoning from certain insecticides and as a suppressant for glandular secretions in surgery. However the poison has been known since the ancient times. An old saying about the family of plants describes the symptoms as: "Blind as a bat and mad as a hatter". A person poisoned can't see. Hallucinates and imagines he is burning up often stripping his clothes. He is in fact burning up as his temperature can rise to over 106 F cooking his brain.

Guard children from the plants.

Answer 4

Contains an alkaloid called Strychnine. The extract is highly poisonous . It causes tetanus like sustained contractions of skeletal muscles.In doses of 10 to 20 mgs can cause spasm of respiratory muscles resulting in death.

Answer 5

er that would be a no

http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/bell001.htm
All parts of the plant may prove to be poisonous even when taken in small quantities. The sweet black berries are especially so.

http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/atropa.html
ripe fruit contain atropine, which causes atrophy, a serious disease.

atrophy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrophy

i read that one symptom of nightshade poisoning is all your skin falls off. why would you risk it????

Answer 6

Ha Ha Jess. When I saw the Q at first, I thought you were speaking from experience!

Answer 7

no!