Tag: Atropine

The nightshade family, Solanaceae, includes thousands of species, many of which are poisonous due to natural chemical compounds called alkaloids. The most infamous of these is deadly nightshade, *Atropa belladonna*, whose potency is a direct result of these powerful toxins.

Over 10% of deaths from deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) are assumed to be a result of poisoning. Understanding what happens if you eat nightshade flowers is critically important, as ingestion can lead to severe anticholinergic toxic syndrome and even death.

In 2019, an incident in Uganda involving food aid contaminated with tropane alkaloids resulted in over 300 people falling ill and five deaths, highlighting the severe dangers these compounds pose. The answer to the question, "Are tropane alkaloids safe to consume?" is a definitive no, as they are potent toxins that can cause severe illness or death, even in small doses.

Over 200 alkaloids have been isolated from mandrake species, confirming their potent and toxic nature. Therefore, for the plant species known as European mandrake ($Mandragora officinarum$), no part of the mandrake is edible under any circumstances.

Atropine is a potent tropane alkaloid, not a food component, with lethal quantities found in small amounts of certain poisonous plants like deadly nightshade. Its presence in food is exclusively due to accidental contamination from toxic weeds harvested alongside crops.

Historically, deadly nightshade (belladonna) was used as a poison by ancient Romans and as a beauty aid in the Italian Renaissance. This notorious reputation often raises questions about what happens if you eat nightshade plants, including the common varieties found in everyday kitchens.

While atropine is a potent, naturally-occurring alkaloid found in poisonous plants like deadly nightshade, documented cases show it can enter the food supply as a contaminant. Understanding which food contains atropine due to this type of accidental contamination is crucial for public health and safety, rather than through intentional consumption.

According to EFSA, atropine and other tropane alkaloids pose a toxicological concern in specific foods. This article explores foods that may contain atropine due to accidental contamination from toxic plants during harvest.