Scientific name: Atropa belladonna

Common names: Deadly Nightshade

Ayurvedic names: Suchi

Chinese names:

Bangladesh names:

Arabic names:    البلادونة (al belladoonah)

Rain Forest names:

Family: Fabaceae

Approximate number of species known:

Common parts used: Whole herb, sprouts

Collection: September

Annual/Perennial: Perennial

Height: 1.5 m

Actions: Pain reliever, muscle relaxer, and anti-inflammatory, and to treat menstrual problems, peptic ulcer disease, histaminic reaction, and motion sickness, Belladonna drops act as an antimuscarinic

Known Constituents: The total alkaloid present in the root varies between 0.4 and 0.6 per cent, but as much as 1 per cent has been found, consisting of Hyoscyamine and its isomer Atropine, 0.1 to 0.6 per cent 

Constituents Explained:

Description: 

Traditional Use:

Clinical Studies:

Robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is a common treatment for localized prostate cancer. Despite a primary advantage of improved postoperative pain, patients undergoing RALP still experience discomfort. 

Belladonna, containing the muscarinic receptor antagonists atropine and scopolamine, in combination with opium as a rectal suppository (B & O) may improve post-RALP pain. A study was conducted to evaluate whether a single preoperative B & O results in decreased postoperative patient-reported pain and analgesic requirements.

Patients undergoing RALP at Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington DC between November 2008 and July 2009 were offered the opportunity to enter a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Exclusion criteria included: glaucoma, bronchial asthma, convulsive disorders, chronic pain, chronic use of analgesics, or a history of alcohol or opioid dependency.

Surgeons were blinded to suppository placement which was administered after induction of anesthesia. All patients underwent a standardized anesthesia regimen. Postoperative pain was assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS) and postoperative narcotic use was calculated in intravenous morphine equivalents.

Ninety-nine patients were included in the analysis. The B & O and control groups were not significantly different in terms of age, body mass index, operative time, nerve sparing status or prostatic volume. Postoperative pain was significantly improved during the first two postoperative hours in the B & O group. 

Similarly, 24-hour morphine consumption was significantly lower in patients who received a B & O. No adverse effects secondary to suppository placement were identified. The study concluded that Preoperative administration of B & O suppository results in significantly decreased postoperative pain and 24-hour morphine consumption in patients undergoing RALP.

References:

Lukasewwycz S, Holman M, Kozlowski P, Poter CR, Odom E, Bernards C, Neil N, Corman JM. “Does A Perioperative Belladona And Opium Suppository Improve Post-Operative Pain Following Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy? Results Of A Single Institution Randomized Study.” 2010 October http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20974030