What does daturine mean?
Daturine is a poisonous alkaloid obtained from plants of the genus Datura, commonly known as thorn apple or jimsonweed. First described by chemists in the nineteenth century, it was long regarded as substantially identical to atropine, the better-known alkaloid of deadly nightshade (belladonna), and shares its characteristic anticholinergic effects: dilation of the pupils, dry mouth, elevated heart rate, and pronounced delirium when taken in toxic doses. Because of these dangers, daturine appears almost exclusively in scientific, pharmacological, and historical literature rather than everyday conversation, where its parent plant's name carries most of the cultural weight — Datura species have long featured in folklore as 'witches' weeds'. The word is useful chiefly to readers of toxicology, history of medicine, or botanical chemistry.
nounA toxic alkaloid obtained from plants of the genus Datura (thorn apple), historically regarded as essentially identical to atropine.
- A toxic alkaloid extracted from Datura species (thorn apple), historically identified with or closely related to atropine.
"The physician warned that even small doses of daturine could cause hallucinations and rapid heartbeat."
"Chemists isolated daturine from the seeds of the thorn apple in the nineteenth century."
"Poisoning cases involving daturine typically present with dry mouth, dilated pupils, and delirium."
Rarely used in the plural; the word normally appears as an uncountable mass noun denoting the substance.
"Analyses of various Datura species revealed slightly differing proportions of daturines in their seeds."
Named after a genus of 'witches' weeds' so poisonous that a single seed can be dangerous, daturine is chemically close to the belladonna drug atropine.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of daturine
The word daturine combines Datura, the New Latin name for the thorn apple genus adopted from a Sanskrit-derived name for the plant that reached European botany through Hindi, with the chemical suffix '-ine' used for alkaloids. It entered English usage during the nineteenth century, when chemists were systematically isolating plant alkaloids. Its close relative atropine, named after Atropos the Fate who cuts life's thread, reflects the same era of alkaloid naming.
How daturine is actually used
A technical term confined to chemistry, pharmacology, and historical toxicology texts; rarely encountered in everyday English.
Easily confused with daturine
Nicotine is the alkaloid of tobacco, whereas daturine is an atropine-like alkaloid derived from Datura (thorn apple) plants.