Morphological information

A coarse annual plant, 1- 3m high, glabrous or minutely pubescent. Leaves ovate toothed or sinuate. Flowers large, white. Calyx long tubular, herbaceous; corolla long, tubular, funnel- shaped mouth wide; stamens attached near the base of the tube, filaments filif6rm. Ovary 2- or spuriously 4- celled. Capsule ellipsoid, spinous. Seeds many, compressed, rugose.

Flowering             : June-November.

Fruiting                : September -March

History               

Datura, a 16th century name latinised from the Persian and Arabic names for D. fastuosa. Stromonium was the name of Datura metel L. at Venice in the middle of the 16th century, where it was cultivated; and the plant is figured under that title by Tragus and Fuchsius. The origin of the name is not evident, but many perhaps are an italianised contraction of Greek Letters. D. Stramonium seems to have been a later introduced into Europe than D. metel but as it rapidly spread and became a common plant the name of the latter was transferred to it.

Parts             : Fruits, seeds, flowers and leaves.

Status           : Low risk.

Phytochemistry

Components of polar flavanoid glycosides determined; sugar portion consisted mainly of glucose glucose and glucose- galactose; some glycosides also present as acetyl derivatives of caffiec, p- coumaric and ferulic acids (Pharm. Acta. Helv 1970, 45, 153, Chem. Abstr. 1970, 72, 118454r); hyoscine N- oxide from seeds, roots, leaves and stems (J.Pharm.Pharmocol 1973, 25,116; Chem. Abstr. 1974, 80, 130477 y); leaves yeilded, -sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, withanolide 1, mp 258' (daturalactone) and stramonolide mp.2650 (Khim Prir Soedin. 1976, 12, 670; Chem Abstr. 1977, 86, 117600n); triterpene alcohols- lanost 8 ene 3, -ol (2.0) lanosterol (tr) and 24- methylenelanost- 8 en- 3, -ol (tr) in addition to cylcloartanol (tr), cycloartenol (340), 24 methylenecyclloartanol (70), lupenol (2.0),  amyrin (53.0%) daturaolone (tr) and daturadiol (tr)-  identified in seeds (Phytochemistry 1977, 16, 1723) total alkaloids 1.25- 0.34% in aerila parts; hyoscyamine, hyoscine ,skimmianine, tropine and 2,6 dihydroxytropane isolated (Khim. Prir. Soedin. 1977, 13,126; Chem. Abstr. 1979, 90, 51420c); detection of cholesterol, cholest- 7enol, campesterol, 24 methyllenecholesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, 28- iisofucosterol, 31- norlanosterol, obtusifoliol, 31 norcycloartenol, cycloeucalenol gramisterol, citrostadienol, lanost- 8- enool, cycloartenol, lanosterol, amyrin, lupeol and 24- methylenecycloartanol in seed oil by GLC and TLC (Hanguk Nonghwa Hakhoe Chi 1978, 21, 51; chem. Abstr. 1979, 90, 100109 U); hyoscyamine, hyoscine and atropine from stem and seeds (Dokl. Akad. Nauk. Todzh SR 1978, 21, 34; Chem. Abstr. 1979, 90, 51420c); isolation and structure of new withanolide  withastromonolide from leaves (Khim. Prir. Soedin 1978, 14, 91; chem. Abstr. 1978, 89, 43962v); four 4K- methylsterols- 31- norianost- 9(11)- enoI (10), 24- methyl- 31- norlanost- 9 (11)- enol (tr), 4K, 24- dimethylcholesta- 7,  24- dienol (tr) anmd 31- norcycloartanol (tr), along with 31- norcy -cloartenol (6.0), cycloeucalenol (9.0), 31 norlanost- 8- enol (tr), 31- norlanosterol (2.0), obtusifoliol (13.0), 4K, 14K, 24- trimethylcholesta- 8, 24- dienol (tr), 4K- methylcholestaenol (1.0) lopohenol (6.0), 24 methyllophenol (tr), 24- ethyllophenol (tr) gramisterol (43.0) and citrostadienol (13.0%) isolated from seed oil.

Agrocultivation

D. stramonium is propagated through seeds. Seeds can be directly drilled in furrows or the plant can be raised in nursery and transplanted in the field. Transplanting gives better results. In case of direct seedling, seeds are drilled in rows at a distance of 45- 60cm. before preparation of the field. The ideal time of seed sowing is March- April in temperate areas where in case of north Indian plains  the seed are sown in November.

In case of transplanting, the seeds are planted in raised nursery beds consisting of farmyard manure and soil. After the seeds are broadcasted, the bed is covered with a layer of sand and farmyard manure. The bed should be kept moist. After the seedling reach to certain heights (4- 6 weeks). They are transplanted in the field in May and June in case of temperate areas and in November and December in case of subtropical areas. The seedlings are placed at the distance of 30- 45 cm in rows and 45- 60 cm. The field is ploughed and deseeds several times before planting. Pre-planting irrigation should be given before preparation of the field. The ideal time of seed sowing is March-  April in temperate areas where in case of north Indian plains – the seeds are sown in November.

In case of transplanting, the seeds are planted in raised nursery beds consisting of farmyard manure and soil. After the seeds are broadcasted, the bed is covered with a layer of sand and farmyard manure. The bed should be kept moist. After the seedlings reach to certain heights (4- 6 weeks), they are transplanted to the fields in May and June in case of temperate areas and in November and December in case of sub-tropical areas. The seedlings are placed at the distance of 30- 45 cm in rows and 45- 60cm apart.

 

Medicinal

Fruit       : Sedative but intoxicating in large doses; juice is applied to scalp for curing dandruff and loss of hairs.

Seeds    : Anti- inflammatory, analgesic, anthelmintic. Used against stomachal and intestinal pain from worm infestation toothache and fever from inflammations.

Leaves   : Anodyne, antiseptic and narcotic and is applied to boils and sores.

Flowers : Cures earache.

All parts of the plant are narcotic specially the seeds, which have a stupefying effect and can be fatal.

 

Traditional

The seed paste though poisonous is applied externally as anti inflammation. Leaves mixed with tobacco are smoked as cigar to relieve from asthma. (Project Report- 2000; M.E.E.S.1- 1- 1991).

 

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