Question

From which part of Atropa belladonna, the drug belladonna is obtained?
A. Roots
B. Bark
C. Stem
D. All parts of the plant

Answer 1

Hint: Atropa belladonna is a branching herbaceous perennial plant which is native to parts of Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. It is also found in the western Ukraine and Iranian provinces. It is commonly referred to as belladonna or deadly nightshade.

Complete answer:
-Atropa belladonna is a poisonous perennial plant that is herbaceous in nature. It belongs to the nightshade family Solanaceae. This family includes plants such as tomatoes, brinjal, potatoes and other poisonous plants such as Datura.
-The different parts of the plant such as the leaves, fruits, flowers as well as the root is very toxic when ingested. Apart from the other parts of the plants, the roots are the most toxic part of the plant with a higher percentage of alkaloids. The toxicity of belladonna is due to the presence of alkaloids such as tropane alkaloids. The roots of the plant are used to extract the drug belladonna. The toxins include atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine chemicals.
-The drug belladonna is an alkaloid that belongs to a class of drugs which are known as antispasmodics or anticholinergics. These drugs are used in several types of medications due to their caltive and laxative effects on the body and are sometimes taken as a painkiller. It is also taken in case of bronchial spasms in asthma, whooping coughs. It is also used as a remedy for cold and hay fever. In case of diseases such as colic, inflammatory diseases, it is widely used.
-The important function of belladonna is that it works to block or restrict functions of the nervous system of the body. It also increases heart rate and blood pressure. It affects the other functions of the body through salivation, sweating, pupil size, urination and regulates the functioning of the digestive system.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: The plant Atropa belladonna is a poisonous plant belonging to the Solanaceae family of nightshades. The different parts of the plants such as the leaves, fruits, flowers and the roots contain the toxic chemicals which are known as the tropane alkaloids. The roots are the part of the plant from which the drug belladonna is extracted.