Which drug is made from mandrake?

Mandrake is a plant that has been used since ancient times for its medicinal properties. The root of the mandrake plant contains powerful chemicals that have psychoactive and medicinal effects.

Quick Answers

The two main drugs made from mandrake are:

  • Atropine – a anticholinergic alkaloid used to dilate pupils, increase heart rate, and treat some types of poisoning
  • Scopolamine – a tropane alkaloid used to treat motion sickness and as a sedative

What is Mandrake?

Mandrake refers to plants in the genus Mandragora. They belong to the nightshade family and are native to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. There are different species of mandrake, but the most common are M. officinarum and M. autumnalis.

The name “mandrake” comes from the Greek word “mandragoras” meaning “harmful to cattle.” The name refers to the fact that the roots can be poisonous if ingested in large quantities.

Description of the Mandrake Plant

Mandrake plants have tufts of leaves that grow close to the ground and They have purple or white bell-shaped flowers. But the most distinctive feature is their large forked root system that often resembles a human body in shape, leading to many superstitions throughout history.

The roots of mandrake contain psychoactive alkaloids like scopolamine, atropine, and hyoscyamine. These compounds have anticholinergic properties, meaning they block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the nervous system.

Traditional and Modern Uses

For thousands of years, mandrake was used as a medicinal plant, though dosage had to be carefully controlled due to its toxicity. It was mentioned by the Greek physician Dioscorides as early as the 1st century AD for treating pain, inflammation, and digestive ailments.

In Europe during the Middle Ages, mandrake root was used as an anesthetic during surgery. The patient would be given a tincture of mandrake to induce a sedated state before the operation. However, overdosing could lead to adverse effects like delirium, coma, or even death.

Mandrake was also used recreationally throughout history. In lower doses, it can cause hallucinations and delirium. There are references to its use as an aphrodisiac and intoxicant going back to ancient Egypt. However, mandrake poisoning could also have severe adverse effects.

Today, the alkaloids found in mandrake continue to have important medical applications, though mandrake itself is no longer commonly used:

  • Atropine is used to dilate the pupils, increase heart rate, and treat certain types of nerve poisonings.
  • Scopolamine is used to prevent motion sickness, treat postoperative nausea, and as a sedative.

Toxicity and Side Effects

While mandrake has been used medicinally for thousands of years, the plant is quite toxic, especially its roots and fruits. The anticholinergic tropane alkaloids are toxic in high doses and concentration.

Signs of mandrake poisoning include:

  • Dilated pupils
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Delirium and hallucinations
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Seizures
  • Coma
  • Death

The fruits of the plant are especially toxic. As few as 2-4 fruits can be fatal for an adult if ingested. However, medicinal preparations using small, controlled doses of mandrake roots were traditionally used safely under a doctor’s supervision.

How Drugs are Extracted from Mandrake

Modern medicinal drugs derived from mandrake – like atropine and scopolamine – are chemically extracted from the plant in a purified form. They are isolated through laboratory extraction and refinement techniques.

Some key facts about mandrake extraction:

  • The main source is the root system of mandrake, which contains the highest concentration of tropane alkaloids.
  • Roots are dried and milled into a powder.
  • The powder is treated with solvents like ether, ethanol, or benzene to extract the alkaloids.
  • Individual alkaloids like atropine and scopolamine are then isolated and purified.
  • The resulting compounds are checked for safety and potency before pharmaceutical use.
  • Doses can be carefully measured and controlled in modern medicine.

Extraction concentrates and isolates the active chemicals in mandrake. This gives a consistent potency not found when using the raw plant. While mandrake itself is not commonly used today due to its toxicity and side effects, its purified alkaloids live on in modern medicine.

Atropine Extraction

Atropine is extracted from the roots and leaves of mandrake plants. It is classified as a tropane alkaloid due to its chemical structure.

To extract atropine, the plant material is dried, milled, and then treated with solvents to produce atropine salts. Further purification separates the atropine from other compounds. The final product is checked for purity and concentration.

Medicinal atropine doses are usually measured in milligrams (mg). Common prescriptions range from 0.4 to 0.6 mg.

Scopolamine Extraction

Scopolamine is another tropane alkaloid derived from the mandrake plant through extraction. It has sedative and antinausea effects.

Mandrake root is dried, powdered, and treated with solvents to extract crude mixtures containing scopolamine. It is then further purified into the final pharmaceutical product.

Scopolamine doses are also very small, typically around 0.2 to 0.8 mg for therapeutic use. It demonstrates the potency of mandrake’s compounds in even tiny amounts.

Atropine Uses and Effects

Atropine has been used medicinally for centuries, particularly in ophthalmology. Today, it still has some important medical applications despite drawbacks like toxicity.

Dilating Pupils

Atropine is used to dilate the pupils for certain eye examinations and procedures. When applied as eyedrops, it causes the pupils to open widely, allowing a doctor to clearly see inside the eye.

Treating Amblyopia

For children with lazy eye (amblyopia), atropine eye drops may be used to blur vision slightly in the stronger eye. This forces the weaker eye to work harder, improving vision over time.

Reducing Saliva and Mucus

Since atropine blocks acetylcholine receptors, it reduces secretions of mucus and saliva. This can be helpful before surgery or anesthesia to keep the airways clear.

Speeding Heart Rate

Atropine speeds up heart rate. It was historically used for types of heart blockages but has been replaced by newer, safer drugs.

Treating Nerve Gas and Insecticide Poisoning

Because atropine blocks acetylcholine receptors, it can counteract the deadly effects of nerve agents and insecticides that work by excess acetylcholine. It is an antidote for poisoning by sarin, VX gas, or organophosphate insecticides.

Side Effects

Possible side effects of atropine include:

  • Dilated pupils
  • Blurry vision
  • Increased heart rate
  • Dry mouth
  • Flushing and redness of the skin
  • Confusion
  • Restlessness
  • Difficulty urinating
  • Constipation

Scopolamine Uses and Effects

Motion Sickness

Scopolamine is very effective for preventing nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, especially in boats and airplanes. It is available as a transdermal patch.

Post-surgery Nausea

It can also treat nausea after surgery. Compared to other anti-nausea medication, scopolamine is more likely to cause drowsiness as a side effect.

Sedation

Scopolamine causes sedation and drowsiness at higher doses. In the past, some women took it during childbirth to induce “twilight sleep.”

Amnesia

The sedative effects of scopolamine also lead to amnesia, especially at higher doses. This raised interests in using it as “truth serum” for interrogations in the early 20th century.

Side Effects

Possible side effects include:

  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Blurry vision
  • Nausea
  • Dry mouth
  • Confusion
  • Hallucinations
  • Short-term amnesia

Comparisons Between Atropine and Scopolamine

Although both derived from mandrake extract, atropine and scopolamine have some key differences in their pharmacology and medical uses:

Comparison Atropine Scopolamine
Medical uses Dilate pupils, increase heart rate, antidote for nerve agents Prevent motion sickness, postoperative nausea, sedation
Potency Weaker anticholinergic effects More potent anticholinergic effects
Absorption Well-absorbed orally, topically, via injection Better absorbed transdermally via patch
Onset of action Works within 30-60 minutes Patch works in 8+ hours
Half-life 2-4 hours 9-13 hours
Amnesic effects Minimal Prominent anterograde amnesia

While chemically similar and from the same plant source, their differences demonstrate the need to extract and utilize mandrake compounds separately based on the desired therapeutic effects.

Modern Safety and Dosing

One major advantage of modern mandrake drugs over the traditional mandrake extracts is improved safety and dosing control. Purified alkaloids allow precise control of doses down to the milligram to optimize safety and efficacy.

Some key factors that improve safety:

  • Purification removes variable toxins from the raw plant material.
  • The potency of each batch is scientifically tested.
  • Oral doses, skin patches, and injections allow precise dosing.
  • The concentration and doses are printed clearly on labels.
  • Healthcare providers carefully calculate and monitor dosages.

In the past, mandrake tea or tinctures carried a high risk of overdose due to varying potency. Modern pharmacy techniques mitigate this issue through purification, testing, precision, and control.

Oral Doses

When taken by mouth in pill or liquid form, recommended adult doses of mandrake alkaloids are:

  • Atropine – 0.4 to 0.6 mg every 4-6 hours
  • Scopolamine – 0.2 to 0.8 mg every 8 hours

Transdermal Patches

With transdermal patches applied to the skin, doses are timed-release over 3 days:

  • Scopolamine – One 1.5 mg patch

Injections

Injection directly into the body allows instant effects:

  • Atropine – 0.5 to 1 mg for severe poisoning
  • Scopolamine – 0.3 to 0.6 mg as a sedative

FAQs

Why were mandrake roots shaped like humans?

The forked root structure of mandrakes often resembles a human body with legs and arms. This led to an association with magic and superstition going back to the Middle Ages that the plant had special powers.

What does mandrake symbolize?

Due to its human-like shape and toxic properties, mandrake was seen as a powerful but dangerous plant. It could prolong life, induce love, or kill enemies when used properly. But it could also cause great harm if used improperly.

Why is mandrake dangerous?

The tropane alkaloids in mandrake can produce delirium, coma, and even death in high doses. The raw plant parts, especially the root and fruits, are very toxic if eaten. Small doses were used medicinally, but had to be measured carefully to avoid poisoning.

Is mandrake real or mythical?

Mandrake is a real plant that has grown for thousands of years around the Mediterranean. The myths surrounding it arose because mandrake roots often resemble human forms, and the plant was found to have very potent medicinal chemicals.

Conclusion

The mandrake plant has a long history of use as a medicinal plant, dating back to ancient times. While raw mandrake itself is too toxic for use today, its extracted alkaloids – atropine and scopolamine – continue to have important medical applications. These drugs are purified for dose control and safety monitoring compared to traditional mandrake preparations. Although intertwined with myth and superstition, mandrake shows how even ancient plant remedies can yield vital modern medicines through science and extraction techniques.

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