Antimuscarinic Herbs

Summary

Antimuscarinic Herbs

introduction:
Herbs in this group contain significant levels of tropane alkaloids, principally atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine (hyoscine). They are mostly found in the Solanaceae family. The tropane alkaloids have high potential toxicity, e.g., acting as competitive antagonists to acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors. The tropane alkaloid-containing herbs are dominated by the activity of their alkaloidal constituents and may be viewed as the more "drug-like" remedies in the herbal materia medica.

Antimuscarinic herbs have limited use in herbal medicine as antispasmodics, and they are not generally available in commerce except to licensed practitioners. Preparations of Datura spp. are used by some native peoples in North America and Mexico for ceremonial and hallucinogenic purposes.

overview of interactions:

• herbal constituents affecting drug toxicity: Atropine, Hyoscamine.

• herbal concerns: Parasympathomimetic Herbs

• herbal concerns: Sympathomimetic Herbs

• herbal concern: Toxicity



Herbs

herbal constituents affecting drug toxicity: Atropine, Hyoscamine.

• mechanism: Antimuscarinic herbs will additively interact with Atropine and Hyoscamine.

• herbal concerns: Clinically this might be an improbable scenario, although recreational abuse of tropane alkaloid containing plants has been reported.

herbal concern: Toxicity

• herbal concerns: Due to the high potential toxicity of tropane alkaloids, therapeutic administration of these herbs should only be undertaken by licensed practitioners and medical herbalists within safe therapeutic dose guidelines.

herbal concerns:
Indirect interaction with other herbs that affect autonomic nervous system activity may take place with herbs from the following herb groups:
• Parasympathomimetic Herbs
• Sympathomimetic Herbs

Common herbs with antimuscarinic activity:
Tropane alkaloid containing herbs are restricted in availability.

Restricted and unusual herbs with antimuscarinic activity:
• Atropa belladonna (Belladonna) *
• Datura stramonium (Jimson Weed) *
• Hyoscyamus niger (Henbane) *
• Mandragora officinarum (Mandrake root) *
• Scopolia carniolica (Scopolia root) *
*toxic

Please read the disclaimer concerning the intent and limitations of the information provided here.
Do not rely solely on the information in this article.

The information presented in Interactions is for informational and educational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, case reports, and/or traditional usage with sources as cited in each topic. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals and different individuals with the same medical conditions with the same symptoms will often require differing treatments. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with conventional medical therapies, including prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications, is also available. Consult your physician, an appropriately trained healthcare practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health concern or medical problem before using any herbal products or nutritional supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications and/or before attempting to independently treat a medical condition using supplements, herbs, remedies, or other forms of self-care.


References

Blumenthal M, Gruenwald J, Hall T, & Riggins CW, (eds.) German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Monographs on Medicinal Plants for Human Use. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council, 1998.

Hardman J, et al. (eds.) Goodman &Gilman's Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. Ninth Edition. McGraw Hill, 1996.

McGuffin M, et al. (eds.) AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook . CRC Press, 1997.