HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR DATURA LEAVES

Datura is a genus of nine species of vespertine flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae. They are known as angel's trumpets, sometimes sharing that name with the closely related genus Brugmansia, and commonly as daturas. They are also sometimes called moonflowers, one of several plant species to be so. Its precise and natural distribution is uncertain, owing to its extensive cultivation andnaturalization throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the globe. Its distribution within the Americas and North Africa, however, is most likely restricted to the United States and Mexico in North America, and Tunisia in Africa, where the highest species diversity occurs.

Datura stramonium, known by the common names Jimson weed, Devil's snare or datura,The traditional name of datura stramonium YORUBA:apikan,zuru,iloqi,iyoli; IGBO:myaramuo; hausa:haukata yaro,
 is a plant in the Solanaceae (nightshade) family. It is believed to have originated in the Americas, but is now found around the world.Datura species are herbaceous, leafy annuals and short-lived perennials which can reach up to 2 m in height. The leaves are alternate, 10–20 cm long and 5–18 cm broad, with a lobed or toothed margin. The flowers are erect or spreading (not pendulous like those ofBrugmansia), trumpet-shaped, 5–20 cm long and 4–12 cm broad at the mouth; colors vary from white to yellow, pink, and pale purple. Thefruit is a spiny capsule 4–10 cm long and 2–6 cm broad, splitting open when ripe to release the numerous seeds. The seeds disperse freely over pastures, fields and even wasteland locations.

Datura belongs to the classic "witches' weeds", along with deadly nightshade, henbane, and mandrake. Most parts of the plants are toxic, and datura has a long history of use for causing delirious states and death. It was well known as an essential ingredient of potions and witches' brews.^[4]

The word datura comes from the sanskrit dhatūr ("thorn apple"); In Sanskrit it is referred as "Kanak" and "Unmatt" in the ancient scriptures of Indian Ayurveda by sage Sushrut andCharaka. Record of this name in English dates back to 1662.^[5] Nathaniel Hawthorne refers to one type in The Scarlet Letter as apple-Peru. In Mexico, its common name istoloache.

Pharmacological properties of Datura stramonium

Antiasthmatic activity

D. stromonium in asthma treatment and possible effects on prenatal development was studied. Exposure of the foetus to D. stromonium when a mother use it for asthma, will cause a continuous release of acetylcholine, resulting in the desensitization of nicotinic receptors, this could ultimately result in permanent damage to the foetus. Therefore we conclude that this African herbal remedy should be used with caution during pregnancy.

Anticholinergic activity

The alkaloids found in D. stramonium, are organic esters used clinically as anticholinergic agents. Jimson weed has been reported as a drug of abuse and has been involved in the accidental poisoning of humans and animals. Symptoms of acute jimson weed poisoning included dryness of the mouth and extreme thirst, dryness of the skin, pupil dilation and impaired vision, urinary retention, rapid heartbeat, confusion, restlessness, hallucinations, and loss of consciousness. The anticholinergic syndrome results from the inhibition of central and peripheral muscarinic neurotransmission.

Acaricidal, repellent and oviposition deterrent properties

The ethanol extracts obtained from both leaf and seed in D. stramonium (Solanaceae) were investigated for acaricidal, repellent and oviposition deterrent properties against adult two-spotted spider mites (T. urticae Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) under laboratory conditions. Leaf and seed extracts, which were applied in 167.25 and 145.75 g/L concentrations, respectively (using a Petri leaf disc-spray tower method), caused 98% and 25% mortality among spider mite adults after 48 h. These results suggest that D. stramonium extracts could be used to manage the two-spotted spider mite.

Antimicrobial Activity

The methanol extracts of D. stramonium and Datura inoxia showed activity against Gram positive bacteria in a dose dependent manner. Little or no antimicrobial activity was found against Escherichia coli and Psuedomonas aeruginosa. The anti-microbial activity of combined crude ethanolic extract of D. stromonium, Terminalia arjuna and Withania somnifera in cup plate diffusion method for antibacterial and antifungal activity. The extracts were subjected to screening to detect potential antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Micrococcus luteus and Candida albicans with compare Ciprofloxacin standard drug.

Anticancer activity

An integrated approach is needed to manage cancer using the growing body of knowledge gained through scientific developments. Thousands of herbal and traditional compounds are being screened worldwide to validate their use as anti-cancerous drugs. D. stramonium in therapeutic dose of 0.05-0.10 g was used to cure cancer. Likely unsafeproduce vomiting, hypertension, loss of consciousness may lead to coma but may interact with anti-cholinergic drugs.

Antiinflamatory activity

Coriandrum sativum (C. sativum), D. stramonium and Azadirachta indica (A. indica) are traditionally used in treatment of inflammation. Ethanolic extracts of fruits of C. sativum, leaves of D. stramonium. Ethanolic extracts of fruits of C. sativum, leaves of D. stromonium and A. indica were subjected to preliminary screening for anti-inflammatory activity in albino rats. All ethanolic extracts exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium against carrageenan induced rat paw edema method. Among these plant A. indica showed maximum anti-inflammatory activity per hour.

Larvicidal and mosquito repellent activities

Ethanolic extracts of leaves of D. stramonium were evaluated for larvicidal and mosquito repellent activities against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. The LD50 values for larvicidal activity were found to be 86.25, 16.07 and 6.25 mg/L against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus respectively. The ethanolic leaves extract of D. stromonium provided complete protection time (mosquito repellency) of 2.7, 71.7 and 117.7 min against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus at higher concentration (1%).

Pesticide toxicity

Extract of D. stramonium was effective in countering the toxicity of the cypermethrin pesticide toxicity.

Antifungal activity

Antifungal activity of a concoction brewed from D. stramonium, Calotropis gigantea, A. indica (neem) and cow manure (T1) followed by methanol-water (70/30 v/v) extracts of D. stromonium, Calotropis gigantea and A. indica T2 against Fusarium mangiferae. The study proved that the concoction-brewed compost T1 is effective, inexpensive, easy to prepare and constitutes a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to control floral malformation in mango when it is sprayed at bud break stage and again at fruit set stage.

Vibriocidal activity

A simple in vitro screening assay was employed for the standard strain of Vibrio cholerae, 12 isolates of Vibrio cholerae non-O1, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Aqueous and organic solvent extracts of different parts of the plants were investigated by using the disk diffusion method. Extracts from 16 medicinal plants were selected on account of the reported traditional uses for the treatment of cholera and gastrointestinal diseases, and they were assayed for vibriocidal activitie. The results indicated that Lawsonia inermis, Saraca indica, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia belerica, Allium sativum, and D. stramonium served as broad-spectrum vibriocidal agents.

Biopesticide with antifungal activity

Biopesticides (leaf extracts) obtained from D. stramonium showed antifungal activities against the fungal pathogen (Fusarium oxysporum) of wilt of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.). Both in vivo and in vitro higher concentration of ethanotic leaf extracts this plants showed complete inhibition in linear growth and sporulation in test fungi.

Protective agent in severe organophosphate toxicity

Treatment of patients following an organophosphate (OP) exposure can deplete a hospital's entire supply of atropine. Given the possibility of multiple severe exposures after a terrorist attack using OP nerve agents, there exists a need for either greater atropine stores or the development of alternative antidotes. Jimsonweed (D. stramonium) contains atropine and other anticholinergic compounds and is common and readily available. It is used recreationally for its central anticholinergic effects and is easy to be made into an extract by boiling the crushed seeds. The extract has rapid onset of effects and may be useful for treatment of OP poisoning. Pretreatment with D. stramonium extracts significantly increases survival following severe dichlorvos exposure.

Toxicity

 It is a hallucinogenic plant that causes serious poisoning. Consumption of any part of the plant may result in a severe anticholinergic reaction that may lead to toxicity and occasionally cause diagnostic difficulties. Cases of poisoning have been reported after eating the berries. Death may occur from heart failure after ingesting 125 seeds, because the seeds contain the highest concentration and has a rapid onset of action, thus may be potentially useful as an alternative to atropine for the treatment of the muscarinic symptoms of organophosphate toxicity and some of central anticholinergic effects. The wide distribution, the strong toxicity and the potential for occurrence in foodstuffs are responsible for the numerous incidents in humans