By

Natasha Puri

M.Sc. Forensic Science

(4th-Sem.)

3940

Family : Solanaceae

English Name : Thorn Apple

Indian Name : Dhatturah, Dhaturra

Dhusturah ( Sanskrit ),

Ummatti (Kannada) ,

Ummattai (Tamil ) ,

Kala Dhaturra (Hindi)

Species : Dhatura fastuosa , D. stramonium , D. alba

D. innoxia, D. metel, D.niger , D. atrox

Use : Medicine ( small dose)

Poison ( large dose)

The genus Dhatura, belonging to the Family Solanaceae.

It falls under the category of Alkaloids and classified as True Alkaloid having

Tropane type of alkaloid as a basic chemical ring.

Consists of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs and grows mostly in warmer parts of the

world.

Out of the 15 species reported from the world, 10 species are found in India.

Few Dhatura species like D. stramonium and D. innoxia are weeds.

Other than India, the plant species are found in Africa,

Asia, Europe, South America, Mexico.

It grows on a variety of soils but prefer rich alkaline

or neutral, clay-loamy soil, rich in organic matter for their

successful growth.

Species Origin

Leaves

(%)

Stem

(%)

Roots

(%)

Fruits

(%)

Seeds

(%)

fastuosa India, Asia

and Africa

0.12 0.12 0.10 0.20 -

stramonium India, USA

and Europe

0.41- 0.45 0.25-0.26 0.21 0.46 0.19

alba India, Asia

and Africa

0.12 0.12 0.10 0.20 -

innoxia India and

Mexico

0.25 0.3 0.39 0.12 0.23-0.25

metel India and

Mexico

0.12 0.12 0.10 0.20 -

Leaves

Flower

Fruit

Seeds

Stem

Following are the active principles of Dhatura :

1. Hyoscine ( Scopolamine ) : C17H21NO4 Present mainly in fruits

2. Hyoscyamine ( Scopoline ) : C17H23NO3 present mainly in roots/seeds

3. Atropine : Present mainly in leaves/flowers

Atropi

Atropine

Competitively inhibits muscarinic effects of Acetylcholine

Following are the symptoms which are First complained of usually within 30 min. afterswallowing the drug :

Vomiting ( immediately after taking the drug)

Dryness of mouth and throat, burning pain in stomach, dysphagia, headache and difficulty in talking

Followed by :

giddiness

incoordination of muscle

peculiar flushed appearance of the face

photophobia

dry hot skin with raised temperature

dilation of pupil

inability to pass urine

delirium

Fatal cases drowsiness passes into stupor, convulsions and coma

Death occurs due to respiratory failure

Dhatura poisoning is having a resemblance with Atropine Poisoning and quoted as:

Hot as a Hare

Blind as a Bat

Dry as a Bone

Red as a Beet

Mad as a Hen

FATAL DOSE : Uncertain

FATAL PERIOD : Death usually occurs within 24 hours

Stomach wash with water or a 2-4 % solution of tannic acid, also give sodium sulphate

by mouth as a purgative

Physiostigmine i.v or i.m route in the dose of 0.5mg at 1-2 hour interval

Pilocarpine nitrate , Methacholine or Neostigmine in the dose of 6-15 mg

Short acting Barbiturates

Stimulants such as Caffeine and artificial respiration ,gives when necessary

Fragments of seeds may be find in the stomach wash and intestines, so therefore it is

necessary to make a careful search for them in :

vomit matter

stomach content

faecal matter

Congestion appears in :

oesophagus

stomach

duodenum

Inflammation in rare cases appears in mucous membrane of the stomach

From Stomach wash, vomit and urine : Perform by using Following steps

which are as follows:

Step 1 :

50 ml of the material10ml of 5% HCl saturated with

Solid Ammonium sulphate

Heat in boiling water for 30 min. and then filter

it off through funnel

Residue on funnel wash

with 25 ml hot water

Step 2 :

Step 1 ( Aqueous

acidic filter solution)50 ml ether

In separating funnel and shake for 5 min.

Ether Layer Aqueous layer

Wash with 10 ml

of 5% HCl

A.A.LayerE.Layer

NH4OH and extract

with CHCl3 :Ether

Fractions combine &

pass through anhyd.

Sod. Sulphate &

evaporate to dryness

Aqueous Layer

Use

for

testDiscard Discard

Physical appearance : a. Seeds are hard, flattened, kidney shaped

b. very much resembling to those of capsicum seeds

Microscopic Test :

Fragments of

seeds(Vomit or

stomach wash)

+

Drop of Glycerin

On Microscopic

slide

Observe under

microscope

Structure like

eye-lid

Vitalis Test :

Extracted Residue0.5 % Acetic Acid

(2ml)

Porcelin basin &

evaporate to

dryness

One drop of fuming

nitric acid & again

evaporate to dryness

on a hot water bath

After cooling add 1 drop of

alcoholic caustic potash

Violet color produce which immediately changes to red and

then disappears. On adding few more drops of alcoholic caustic

potash color again appears

Physiological Test :

Extracted Residue0.5 % Acetic

Acid(ml)

Instill into the eye

of a cat 4 times at

1 hour interval

Observe

Dilation of pupil observe

which is compare with

other eye in which no drop

of sample instill

Paper Chromatography :

Media : Whatman No.1 Paper treat with 2% KCl

Solvent System : Butanol : Acetic acid : Water (100:10:25)

Location Reagent: Dragendroff’s Reagent

Iodoplatinate spray

Observation : 3 spots observe ATROPINE ( Rf 0.71)

HYOSCINE (Rf 0.52)

HYOSCYAMINE (Rf 0.54)

S.No. Alkaloid Rf Color

Dragendroff’s

reagent

Observe

Iodoplatinate

Spray

1. Atropine 0.71 Orange Blue/Brown

2. Hyoscine 0.52 Orange Blue/Brown

3. Hyoscyamine 0.54 Orange Brown

Thin Layer Chromatography :

Adsorbent : Silica gel G

Solvent system : Methanol : Water ( 70:30 )

Location Reagent : Dragendroff’s Reagent

Observation : 3 spots observe ATROPINE ( Rf 0.33)

HYOSCINE (Rf 0.40)

HYOSCYAMINE (Rf 0.48)

S.No. Alkaloids Rf Color with

Dragendroff’s Reagent

1. Atropine 0.33 Orange

2. Hyoscine 0.40 Orange

3. Hyoscyamine 0.48 Orange

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