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Belladonna  Extract
Atropa Belladonna (Solanaceae

Used as an antispasmodic,relaxant and anesthetic/Used to dilate the pupils of the eye/Used for Parkinson's disease to reduce tremors and rigidity
BP/EP

The plant has dull green leaves The flowers are bell-shaped and are a dull, unremarkable shade of purple, which yield shiny black berries about 1 cm in diameter. It is an herbaceous shrub, and can grow to be about one metre tall. The leaves have an oily, "poison ivy"-like feel to them; they can indeed cause vesicular pustular eruptions if handled carelessly. Many animals, such as rabbits, birds and deer, seem to eat the plant with impunity, not suffering any deleterious effects, though dogs and cats are affected. Many reports suggest that some humans have been poisoned simply by eating animals that have eaten some of the leaves, although these reports may be apocryphal.Germination is often difficult due to the presence of germination inhibitors in the seeds. Because of its name, it is not common as a garden plant, and is considered a weed in some places. It is not as hardy a perennial as the literature would lead one to believe, and will not tolerate transplantation. Germination requires several weeks in warm, moist, absolutely sterile soil, usually far from normal garden conditions.

True to its name, Belladonna is one of the most toxic plants to be found in the Western hemisphere. Children have been poisoned by as few as three of the berries, and a small leaf thoroughly chewed can be a fatal dose for an adult. The root is often the most toxic part, though this can vary from one specimen to another.All parts of the plant, especially the root, contain tropane alkaloids. The berries often present the greatest danger to children as they have a somewhat sweet taste, though they are the least toxic part of the plant. Symptoms of belladonna poisoning are the same as those for atropine (the most well known of the tropane alkaloids), and include dilated pupils, tachycardia, hallucinations, blurred vision, loss of balance, a feeling of flight, staggering, a sense of suffocation, paleness followed by a red rash, flushing, husky voice, extremely dry throat, constipation, urinary retention, and confusion. The skin can completely dry out and slough off. Fatal cases have a rapid pulse that turns feeble. The antidote is physostigmine or pilocarpine, the same as for atropine.The plant is also toxic to many domestic animals and livestock; for instance, poisoning can lead to colic, depression, weakness, and lack of coordination in horses, with fatalities reported even for small amounts from 1 to 10 pounds (0.5 to 5 kg)

The name belladonna originates from the historic use by ladies (Bella Donna is Italian for beautiful lady) to dilate their pupils; an extract of belladonna was used as eye drops as part of their makeup preparations. The Belladonna Toxin's atropine content had the effect of dilating the pupil, thus making their eyes supposedly more attractive. Dilated pupils are considered more attractive (especially with females) because pupils normally dilate when a person is aroused, thus making eye contact much more intense than it already is. It had the adverse effect of making their vision a little blurry and making their heart rates increase.WitchcraftAccording to practitioners of witchcraft, nightshade is ruled by Hecate and can turn into an old hag on Walpurgis Night, or April 30. It is also used in flying ointments. Of the twelve recipes for flying ointments, six call for deadly nightshade.According to legend, this is the favorite plant of the devil, and can only be harmed when he is diverted from its care on the Walpurgis.Modern medicineThe plant is the most important source of atropine, ironically an effective cure for the effects of poisoning by potent cholinesterase inhibitors such as Parathion, Malathion and, most infamously, Sarin, VX, and similar nerve agents. In Europe, it is specifically cultivated for that reason.Optometrists and ophthalmologists use belladonna to this day for pupil dilation in eye examinations, though the dose is extremely small.Recreational drugOccasionally, the plant is used for recreational purposes: it is consumed in the form of either a tea or simply raw, which can produce vivid hallucinations, described by many as a 'living dream'. The effects of even a slight poisoning are so unpleasant that the recreational user is unlikely to attempt its use again, if he or she survives at all.