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belladonna
belladonna or deadly nightshade, poisonous perennial plant, Atropa belladona, of the nightshade family. Native to Europe and now grown in the United States, the plant has reddish, bell-shaped flowers and shiny black berries. Extracts of its leaves and fleshy roots act to dilate the pupils of the eye and were once used cosmetically by women to achieve this effect. (The name belladonna is from the Italian meaning "beautiful lady." ) The plant extract contains the alkaloids atropine , scopolamine , and hyoscyamine. Belladonna has also been used since ancient times as a poison and as a sedative; in medieval Europe large doses were used by witchcraft and devil-worship cults to produce hallucinogenic effects. Other species of the potato family such as henbane ( Hyoscyamus niger ), mandrake ( Mandragora officinarum ), and Jimson weed ( Datura stramonium ) also contain one or more of the alkaloids present in belladona. The active substances act physiologically to depress the parasympathetic nervous system . Belladonna is classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Solanales, family Solanaceae. |
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"belladonna." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "belladonna." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-belladn.html "belladonna." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-belladn.html |
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belladonna
belladonna (bel-ă-don-ă) n.
1. deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna). 2. the alkaloid derived from deadly nightshade, from which atropine is extracted. Preparations containing belladonna are used for treating diarrhoea. Trade names: Alophen, Bellocarb. |
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"belladonna." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "belladonna." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-belladonna.html "belladonna." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-belladonna.html |
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belladonna
bel·la·don·na / ˌbeləˈdänə/ • n. deadly nightshade. ∎ a drug prepared from the leaves and root of this, containing atropine. |
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"belladonna." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "belladonna." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-belladonna.html "belladonna." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-belladonna.html |
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belladonna
belladonna deadly nightshade, drug prepared from this. XVIII. — It., lit. ‘fair lady’ said to be so named because in Italy a face cosmetic was made from it.
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T. F. HOAD. "belladonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "belladonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-belladonna.html T. F. HOAD. "belladonna." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-belladonna.html |
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belladonna
belladonna See atropine; nightshade
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"belladonna." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "belladonna." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-belladonna.html "belladonna." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-belladonna.html |
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belladonna
belladonna
•belladonna, Connor, donna, goner, gonna, honour (US honor), Maradona, Mashona, O'Connor, Shona, wanna
•corner, fauna, forewarner, Lorna, Morna, mourner, sauna, scorner, suborner, warner
•softener • Faulkner
•downer, uptowner
•sundowner
•Arizona, Barcelona, boner, condoner, corona, Cremona, Desdemona, donor, Fiona, groaner, Iona, Jonah, kroner, Leona, loaner, loner, moaner, Mona, owner, Pamplona, persona, postponer, Ramona, stoner, toner, Valona, Verona, Winona
•landowner • homeowner • shipowner
•coiner, joiner, purloiner
•crooner, harpooner, lacuna, lacunar, lampooner, Luna, lunar, mizuna, Oona, oppugner, Poona, pruner, puna, schooner, spooner, Tristan da Cunha, tuna, tuner, Una, vicuña, yokozuna
•honeymooner • Sunna • Brookner
•koruna
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"belladonna." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "belladonna." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-belladonna.html "belladonna." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-belladonna.html |
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