Editing Datura (section)

==Toxicity==
All ''Datura'' plants contain [[tropane alkaloids]] such as scopolamine and atropine, primarily in their seeds and flowers, as well as the roots of certain species such as ''[[Datura wrightii|D. wrightii]]''. Because of the presence of these substances, ''Datura'' has been used for centuries in some cultures as a [[poison]].<ref name="Preissel-2002"/><ref>{{cite journal | author1 = Adams, J. D. Jr. | author2 = Garcia, C. | title = Spirit, Mind and Body in Chumash Healing | journal = Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | year = 2005 | volume = 2 | issue = 4 | pages = 459–463 | doi = 10.1093/ecam/neh130 | pmid = 16322802 | pmc = 1297503 }}</ref><ref name="Fatur-2020"/> A given plant's toxicity depends on its age, where it is growing, and the local weather conditions. These variations make ''Datura'' exceptionally hazardous as a drug. Since datura directly causes the effects of anticholinergic syndrome, the symptoms of its toxicity are often cited by the traditional mnemonic: "Blind as a bat, mad as a hatter, red as a beet, hot as a hare, dry as a bone, the bowel and bladder lose their tone, and the heart runs alone".<ref name="Holzman-1998">{{cite journal | vauthors = Holzman RS | title = The legacy of Atropos, the fate who cut the thread of life | journal = Anesthesiology | volume = 89 | issue = 1 | pages = 241–9 | date = July 1998 | pmid = 9667313 | doi = 10.1097/00000542-199807000-00030 | s2cid = 28327277 | doi-access = free }} citing J. Arena, Poisoning: Toxicology-Symptoms-Treatments, 3rd edition. Springfield, Charles C. Thomas, 1974, p 345</ref> ''Datura'', as well as long-term psychoactive/toxic usage of other [[Anticholinergics|anticholinergic drugs]], also appear to significantly increase the risk of developing [[dementia]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=2300 |title = Study suggests link between long-term use of anticholinergics and dementia risk |publisher = [[Alzheimer's Society]] |date = 2015-01-26 |access-date = 2015-02-17 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151112115547/https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=2300 |archive-date = 2015-11-12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=More |first1=Sandeep |last2=Kumar |first2=Hemant |last3=Cho |first3=Duk-Yeon |last4=Yun |first4=Yo-Sep |last5=Choi |first5=Dong-Kug |title=Toxin-Induced Experimental Models of Learning and Memory Impairment |journal=International Journal of Molecular Sciences |date=1 September 2016 |volume=17 |issue=9 |page=1447 |doi=10.3390/ijms17091447 |pmid=27598124 |pmc=5037726 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

In traditional cultures, a great deal of experience with and detailed knowledge of ''Datura'' was critical to minimize harm.<ref name="Preissel-2002"/> Many tragic incidents result from modern users ingesting or smoking ''Datura''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fatur |first1=Karsten |last2=Kreft |first2=Samo |title=Common anticholinergic solanaceaous plants of temperate Europe - A review of intoxications from the literature (1966–2018) |journal=Toxicon |date=April 2020 |volume=177 |pages=52–88 |doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.02.005 |pmid=32217234 |bibcode=2020Txcn..177...52F |s2cid=213559151 }}</ref> For example, in the 1990s and 2000s, the United States media reported stories of [[adolescent]]s and young adults dying or becoming seriously ill from intentionally ingesting ''Datura''.<ref>{{cite journal | url = https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5233a2.htm | author1 = Goetz, R. | author2 = Siegel, E. | author3 = Scaglione, J. | author4 = Belson, M. | author5 = Patel, M. | title = Suspected Moonflower Intoxication – Ohio, 2002 | journal = MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report | year = 2003 | volume = 52 | issue = 33 | pages = 788–791 | pmid = 12931077 | publisher = [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|CDC]] | archive-date = 25 June 2017 | access-date = 9 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170625120845/https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5233a2.htm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-11-01-jimson_x.htm | title = Jimson weed users chase high all the way to hospital | access-date = 2009-02-15 | newspaper = [[USA Today]] | first = D. | last = Leinwand | date = 2006-11-01 | archive-date = 6 September 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090906122049/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-11-01-jimson_x.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> Deliberate or inadvertent poisoning resulting from smoking jimsonweed and other related species has been reported as well.<ref name="Pennachio-2010">{{Cite book|vauthors=Pennachio M, Jefferson L, Havens K |title=Uses and Abuses of Plant-Derived Smoke: Its Ethnobotany As Hallucinogen, Perfume, Incense, and Medicine|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2010|isbn=978-0-19-537001-0|page=7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pr9fgQIr5LkC&pg=PA7}}</ref> Although most poisonings occur with more common species of ''Datura'' such as ''[[Datura stramonium|D. stramonium]]'', several reports in the medical literature indicate deaths from ''D. ferox'' [[Substance intoxication|intoxication]].<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Michalodimitrakis | first1 = M. | last2 = Koutselinis | first2 = A. | title = Discussion of "Datura stramonium: A fatal poisoning" | journal = Journal of Forensic Sciences | year = 1984 | volume = 29 | issue = 4 | pages = 961–962 | pmid = 6502123
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Boumba | first1 = V. A. | last2 = Mitselou | first2 = A. | last3 = Vougiouklakis | first3 = T. | title = Fatal poisoning from ingestion of ''Datura stramonium'' seeds | journal = Veterinary and Human Toxicology | volume = 46 | issue = 2 | pages = 81–82 | year = 2004 | pmid = 15080209 |oclc=112473077 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Steenkamp | first1 = P. A. | last2 = Harding | first2 = N. M. | last3 = Van Heerden | first3 = F. R. | last4 = Van Wyk | first4 = B.-E. | title = Fatal ''Datura'' poisoning: Identification of atropine and scopolamine by high performance liquid chromatography / photodiode array / mass spectrometry | doi = 10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.03.011 | journal = Forensic Science International | volume = 145 | issue = 1 | pages = 31–39 | year = 2004 | pmid =  15374592 }}</ref> Children are especially vulnerable to atropine poisoning.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Taha, S. A. |author2=Mahdi, A. H. | year = 1984 | title = Datura intoxication in Riyadh | journal = Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | volume = 78 | issue = 1 | pages = 134–135 | pmid = 6710568 | doi=10.1016/0035-9203(84)90196-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Djibo | first1 = A. | last2 = Bouzou | first2 = S. B. | title = [Acute intoxication with "sobi-lobi" (Datura). Four cases in Niger] | language = fr | journal = Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique | year = 2000 | volume = 93 | issue = 4 | pages = 294–297 | pmid = 11204734 }}</ref>
[[File:Datura innoxia fruit split open.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''D. inoxia'' with ripe, split-open fruit]]
In some parts of [[Europe]] and [[India]], ''Datura'' has been a popular [[poison]] for [[suicide]] and [[murder]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fatur |first1=Karsten |last2=Kreft |first2=Samo |title=Common anticholinergic solanaceaous plants of temperate Europe - A review of intoxications from the literature (1966–2018) |journal=Toxicon |date=April 2020 |volume=177 |pages=52–88 |doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.02.005 |pmid=32217234 |bibcode=2020Txcn..177...52F |s2cid=213559151 }}</ref> From 1950 to 1965, the State Chemical Laboratories in [[Agra]], India, investigated 2,778 deaths caused by ingesting ''Datura.''<ref name="Preissel-2002" /><ref name="Andrews-2013">{{cite web|last=Andrews|first=Dale|title=Daturas|url=http://www.sleuthsayers.org/2012/02/daturas.html|work=Crime Poisons|publisher=SleuthSayers|access-date=4 March 2013|location=Washington|date=2013-02-28|archive-date=10 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210034739/https://www.sleuthsayers.org/2012/02/daturas.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A group called [[Thuggee|Thugs]] ''(practicers of thuggee)'' were reportedly devotees of an Indian religious cult made up of robbers and assassins who strangled or poisoned their victims in [[ritual]]s devoted to the Hindu goddess [[Kali]]. They were alleged to employ ''Datura'' in many such poisonings, using it also to induce drowsiness or stupefaction, making strangulation easier.<ref name="Dash-2005">[[Mike Dash|Dash, Mike]] ''Thug: the true story of India's murderous cult'' {{ISBN|1-86207-604-9}}, 2005</ref>

''Datura'' toxins may be ingested accidentally by consumption of [[honey]] produced by several wasp species, including ''[[Brachygastra lecheguana]]'', during the ''Datura'' blooming season. These semi-domesticated [[honey wasp]]s apparently collect ''Datura'' nectar for honey production, which can lead to poisoning.<ref name="Bequaert-1933">{{cite journal |last1=Bequaert |first1=Joseph |title=The Nearctic Social Wasps of the Subfamily Polybiinae (Hymenopetra; Vespidae) |journal=Entomologica Americana |date=29 November 1933 |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=87–150 |url=https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_ba/285/ |archive-date=24 October 2021 |access-date=24 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024155709/https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_ba/285/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported accidental poisoning resulting in hospitalization for a family of six who inadvertently ingested ''Datura'' used as an ingredient in stew.<ref name="CDCP-2010">{{cite journal |title=Jimsonweed poisoning associated with a homemade stew - Maryland, 2008 |journal=Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report |date=5 February 2010 |volume=59 |issue=4 |pages=102–104 |pmid=20134399 |url=https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5904a3.htm |author1=Centers for Disease Control Prevention |archive-date=24 October 2021 |access-date=24 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024160945/https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5904a3.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In some places around the world, such as India due to the Drug & Cosmetic Act 1940 & Rule 1995,  buying, selling, or cultivating ''Datura'' plants is prohibited.<ref name="Preissel-2002" /><ref name="Andrews-2013" /> Solanaceous tribes with a similar chemistry (i.e. a similar tropane alkaloid content), include the [[Hyoscyameae]], containing such well-known toxic species as ''[[Hyoscyamus niger]]'' and  ''[[Atropa belladonna]]'', the Solandreae containing the genus ''[[Solandra]]'' ("chalice vines") and the [[Mandragoreae]], named for the famous ''[[Mandragora officinarum]]'', most of which are considered traditional witches' herbs and poisons.