belladonna

Pronunciation: bel′ă-don′ă

Definition: Atropa belladonna (family Solanaceae); a perennial herb with dark or yellow purple flowers and shining purplish-black berries; the leaves (0.3% belladonna alkaloids) and root (0.5% belladonna alkaloids) orginally were sources of atropine scopalamine and related alkaloids, which are anticholinergic. Belladonna is used as a powder (0.3% belladonna alkaloids, calculated as hyoscyamine) and tincture in the treatment of diarrhea, asthma, colic, and hyperacidity.

Synonym(s): deadly nightshade

[It. bella, beautiful, + donna, lady]

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