Medicinal values of Datura: A synoptic review

Abstract

Datura, a wildly growing plant from Solanaceae family, commonly known as Jimson weed or Devil’s snare is attributed with both poisonous and medicinal values. It contains varieties of toxic alkaloids such as atropine, hyoscamine, and scopolamine. In Ayurveda, it has been used for curing various ailments including wounds, inflammation, rheumatism, sciatica, swellings, fever, and asthma. A wide range of medicinal values has been attributed to this plant. Different studies reported safety and toxicity aspects while other studies reported analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-diarrheal, etc. activities of different extracts of the plant. This study is a review on this plant.