How long does it take to die from Belladonna? (Nightshade)?

Question

I'm writing a short film screenplay and I need to know how long it would take the average adult to die after consuming a fair amount of the Belladonna leaf. Does anyone know this?

Oh and the movie's called "Nightshade" which I think sounds cool.

Answer 1

It would depend on the amount consumed and the person's metabolism.

It has been documented that ingestion of one leaf can be fatal to an average adult.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belladonna_%28plant%29#Toxicity

Answer 2

I read that Wikipedia article, also, and it didn't say how long it took to die from it. I presume it all depends on how much is taken. Interesting note for you as a screenwriter is that the movie Perfect Stranger (out on DVD now) used Belladonna as a murder method and I think the the Psych show on tv recently used Belladonna as a murder weapon, too. (The jockey died very quickly - within minutes. The trank was supposed to hit the horse and slow it down.) There's got to be something out there for a new way to go.

Answer 3

I found a source with time to death for the berries. That's what I had always heard was the most common method of poisoning--perhaps because kids pop them in their mouth. I wouldn't imagine the rate of absorption of the poison would be that dramatically different for the leaves anyway--my guess would be maybe slightly slower since they are more fibrous and less juicy. They say it requires about 30 berries (5 for children) and that it takes 6-24 hours. The source is actually kind of creepy--it's from "The Suicide Methods File" a website for people who want to poison themselves. Scroll down to Atropa belladona:

http://www.spaink.net/suicide/suicide_poison_natural.html
.

Answer 4

Conservatives

Answer 5

wikipedia it.