Scopolia

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Cite This Source

Scopolia is a genus of five species of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae, native to Europe and Asia. The genus is named after Giovanni Scopoli (1723-88), an Italian naturalist.

Scopolia carniolica is a creeping perennial plant, with light green leaves and pale yellow to dull red flowers. It is sometimes cultivated as a decorative plant. Scopolia's extract (which contains a form of the alkaloid scopolamine) is used in at least one commercial stomach remedy (Inosea, produced by Sato Pharmaceutical). The extract is an anti-spasmodic in low doses and may be used to relax smooth muscle tissue or prevent motion-sickness induced nausea; in higher doses it is a poisonous narcotic having hallucinogenic and memory-inhibiting effects.

Other alkaloids found in Scopolia carniolica include cuscohygrine and hysocyamine.

Alkaloids found in Scopolia tangutica include hysocyamine, scopolamine, anisodamine, and anisodine.

Alkaloids found in Scopolia atropoides (possibly just a synonym for Scopolia carniolica) include atroscine.

The coumarin phenylpropanoids umbelliferone and scopoletin have been isolated from the roots of Scopolia japonica.

The related species Atropanthe sinensis is sometimes included in Scopolia as Scopolia sinensis.

References

• Ben-Wyk, Erik; & Wink, Michael (2004). Medicinal Plants of the World. Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-602-7.
• Huang, Kee Chang; & Williams, Walter (1999). The pharmacology of Chinese herbs. CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-1665-0.
• D'Arcy, William G. (1986). Solanaceae. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-05780-6.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia © 2001-2006 Wikipedia contributors (Disclaimer)
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Sunday March 09, 2008 at 01:38:23 PST (GMT -0800)
View this article at Wikipedia.org - Edit this article at Wikipedia.org - Donate to the Wikimedia Foundation