Atropine

Atropine is a tropane alkaloid extracted from the deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) and other plants of the family Solanaceae. It is a secondary metabolite of these plants and serves as a drug with a wide variety of effects. Being potentially deadly it derives its name from Atropos one of the 3 fates who according to Greek Mythology chose how a person was to die.

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Generally, atropine lowers the "rest and digest" activity of all muscles and glands regulated by the parasympathetic nervous system. This occurs because atropine is a competitive inhibitor of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. (Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter used by the parasympathetic nervous system.) Therefore, it causes swallowing difficulties.

Tropane: Tropane (C8H15N, 8-methyl-8-aza-bicyclooctane) is a nitrogenous bicyclic organic compound. It is mainly known for a group of alkaloids derived from it (called tropane alkaloids), which include, among others, atropine and cocaine. Tropane alkaloids occur in plants of the families Solanaceae (mandrake...

Alkaloid: An alkaloid is a nitrogenous organic molecule that has a pharmacological effect on humans and animals. The name derives from the word alkaline; originally, the term was used to describe any nitrogen-containing base (an amine in modern terms). Alkaloids are found as secondary metabolites in plants (e...

Deadly nightshade: Deadly nightshade or belladonna (Atropa belladonna) is a well-known, hardy perennial shrub, a member of the nightshade family....