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Mandragola or Mandragora

What is that

Mandrake ( Mandragora officinarum L.) - or mandrake, if you prefer - is a plant belonging to the Solanaceae family.

Become famous and appreciated in ancient times for its alleged magical properties, nowadays the mandrake represents a rather feared plant, since highly toxic and easily confused with other edible plants . In fact, there are several cases of poisoning that occurred following the ingestion of mandrake leaves, mistakenly mistaken for leaves of other edible plant species, such as spinach, borage, some types of lettuce, etc.

Due to its toxicity, the use of mandrake in medicine and herbal medicine is not allowed. However, some of the active ingredients contained in it are used - at the appropriate dosages - in the pharmaceutical field for the preparation of medicines intended for the treatment of ailments of various kinds.

Features

Features and short Description Mandragora Botany

As mentioned, the mandrake is a plant belonging to the Solanaceae family and is native to the Mediterranean regions.

The drug consists of the dried hypogean parts, fresh grass and the root.

The mandrake is a perennial herbaceous plant, almost devoid of stem, whose leaves form a basal rosette. Usually, the leaves have an ovate-lanceolate shape, are dark green in color and possess an unpleasant smell.

The flowers have a lanceolate chalice and the corolla has a color that varies from light green to yellow.

The fruits are globular and yellow colored berries, whose size can vary from two to four centimeters.

The root is often branched, brown and anthropomorphic, and can reach considerable dimensions, penetrating into the ground up to a depth of 60 centimeters.

Chemical composition

Active substances contained within the Mandragora

The main active substances contained within the mandrake and responsible for its toxicity are the tropane alkaloids. Among these, the main ones are represented by:

  • L-hyoscyamine ;
  • Atropine (racemic mixture composed of D-hyoscyamine and L-hyoscyamine);
  • Scopolamine (also known as L-hyoscine).

This mixture of tropane alkaloids is present in the root as well as in the leaves of the plant.

Similar active substances are also present in other plants belonging to the Solanaceae family, such as, for example, the Atropa belladonna .

Toxicity

Mandragora toxicity and Mechanism of action of the Tropanic Alkaloids

The toxicity of the mandrake is due to its content of tropane alkaloids that - acting at the level of muscarinic receptors (or cholinergics, if you prefer) - are able to produce toxic effects on different districts and organs (central nervous system, apparatus gastrointestinal, cardiovascular system, etc.).

More precisely, these tropane alkaloids exert an antimuscarinic action, i.e. they are able to block muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, preventing this neurotransmitter from performing its normal functions within the body. It is precisely because of this block that the typical symptoms of mandrake poisoning manifest themselves.

Poisoning

Symptoms of Mandragora Poisoning

The symptoms of mandrake poisoning occur in different parts of the body, as muscarinic receptors are present in various organs and tissues.

A step back to understand: the Muscarinic Receptors

Currently, five different types of muscarinic receptors are known, differently located within the body:

  • M1 receptors, present at the level of glands, brain and sympathetic ganglia;
  • M2 receptors, particularly located at the level of smooth muscles, heart and brain;
  • M3 receptors, present in smooth muscles (such as gastrointestinal), in the brain and glands;
  • M4 receptors, located in the brain;
  • M5 receptors, mainly present at eye and brain level.

The type of symptoms and the intensity with which they occur can vary depending on the amount of toxic substances ingested.

However, the symptomatology of mandrake poisoning is characterized by the appearance of:

  • Dry mouth;
  • Blurred vision and mydriasis;
  • Increased body temperature;
  • Urination difficulties;
  • Drowsiness;
  • Constipation;
  • Tachycardia;
  • Dizziness;
  • Headache;
  • Delirium and hallucinations;
  • Manic episodes;
  • Mental confusion;
  • Breathing difficulties.

In the most serious cases, the ingestion of mandragora - therefore of the toxic substances contained in it - can lead to coma and even death.

Treatment of Mandragora intoxication

In case of suspected mandrake ingestion and / or in the event that the aforementioned symptoms occur after the ingestion of apparently edible plants, it is necessary to immediately contact the medical aid.

In fact, if promptly treated, mandrake poisoning can be resolved without serious consequences. However, the complete resolution of such an event depends strongly on the amount of toxic substances ingested and on the sensitivity of the individual to these same substances.

However, fortunately, in the case of poisoning with tropane alkaloids it is possible to resort to a specific antidote : physostigmine . This active principle is administered parenterally and - thanks to its mechanism of action - it is able to increase the levels of acetylcholine at the level of the cholinergic nerve endings, thus favoring the restoration of normal body conditions.

In addition to the administration of the antidote, patients with mandrake intoxication must receive all the necessary supportive therapies, such as, for example, emptying the stomach contents by gastric lavage, lowering body temperature (but without the use of antipyretics), the administration of oxygen and / or any intubation to counter respiratory difficulties and so on.

Therapeutic Uses

Therapeutic uses of the Tropanic Alkaloids contained in the Mandragora

Due to its toxicity, the mandrake is not used in the medical field, nor in phytotherapy. However, the alkaloids contained in it are exploited - at the appropriate dosages - in the pharmaceutical field for the production of medicines suitable for the treatment of various disorders.

For example, scopolamine is available in injectable pharmaceutical preparations and transdermal patches for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. In the form of quaternary ammonium compound (scopolamine butyl-bromide), it can instead be found in medicinal specialties used for the treatment of painful spasms of the gastrointestinal tract and the genito-urinary tract (biliary and urinary colic).

Atropine, on the other hand, is used for the treatment of sinus bradycardias and for pre-anesthetic medication in order to reduce salivation and excessive secretions of the respiratory tract. Atropine is also used in ophthalmology to induce mydriasis in order to perform specialized examinations.

Folklore

Uses of the Mandrake in Popular Medicine

Despite the toxicity that characterizes this plant, over time, the mandrake has found different uses in folk medicine. The dye obtained from the root of the plant, in fact, was used as a remedy against colic, gastric ulcers and asthma, as it was used for the treatment of hay fever and even pertussis.

Mandragora between Myths and Legends

The myths and legends about the mandrake are really many. Since ancient times, in fact, this plant - or rather its root with the typical anthropomorphic appearance - has been given magical properties.

It was considered the favorite herb by witches and was widely used in the preparation of potions and magic ointments of different types. Furthermore, it was believed that the mandrake could be used for the preparation of aphrodisiac potions to combat sterility.

In the texts of alchemy, the root of the plant is represented as a creature with limbs and a face, sometimes with a beard, sometimes with the appearance of a child. The most famous legend that circulates on this plant is probably that of the much feared " scream of the mandrake ". According to this legend, once extracted from the earth, the mandrake would have issued a sharp scream that, if heard, would have been able to kill a man. To avoid this, the mandrake had to be harvested following very specific and very articulated rituals involving the use of female urine and the extraction of the plant by a virgin or, alternatively, of a black dog.