What does stramonium mean?
Stramonium is a toxic preparation made from the leaves and roots of Datura stramonium, the plant commonly called thorn apple. It contains powerful tropane alkaloids, especially atropine and scopolamine, which can affect the nervous system, heart, vision, and behaviour. Although stramonium was formerly used medicinally for pain, spasms, cough, and other complaints, its unpredictable and potentially fatal toxicity eventually led to its abandonment as a conventional treatment. Today, the word is encountered mainly in toxicology, medicine, historical pharmacy, and accounts of accidental or deliberate poisoning. Even relatively small amounts can cause serious symptoms, including confusion, agitation, hallucinations, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, high temperature, seizures, and coma. The term therefore carries a strong sense of danger. Its close botanical association with the nightshade family also explains why it sometimes appears alongside descriptions of datura or jimson weed.
nounA poisonous drug made from the leaves and roots of the thorn apple, or Datura stramonium, a plant containing atropine and scopolamine. It has historically been used medicinally, but is now chiefly encountered in discussions of poisoning and toxicology.
- A poisonous medicinal or toxicological preparation derived from the leaves and roots of Datura stramonium, commonly called thorn apple.
- The dried plant material or drug prepared from Datura stramonium, historically used as an analgesic, antispasmodic, or sedative despite its toxicity.
"The physician suspected that the strange symptoms were caused by stramonium poisoning."
"The laboratory analysis confirmed that the tea had been contaminated with stramonium."
"Stramonium was once prescribed for conditions such as asthma, but its dangerous side effects led to its decline as a conventional medicine."
When referring to the drug or plant material, stramonium is normally uncountable. Plural forms are unnecessary in standard usage.
"The sample was tested for strychnine and stramonium."
The common name 'thorn apple' is also a warning: stramonium is a dangerously toxic member of the nightshade family.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stramonium come from?
The English word comes through Medieval Latin stramonium, a Latinized form of Greek strychnos. Greek strychnos was an ancient plant name used for several poisonous or medicinal plants, including the plant now known as Datura stramonium. The modern botanical name preserves this ancient association with a toxic nightshade-family plant.
How stramonium is actually used
The term is chiefly technical, historical, or forensic rather than ordinary contemporary vocabulary. It should not be confused with the related modern drug datura, and references to stramonium almost always involve its poisonous nature.
Easily confused with stramonium
Both are potent poisons, but stramonium comes from Datura stramonium and is associated with delirium and dilated pupils, whereas strychnine is an alkaloid associated with severe muscle spasms and convulsions.
Stramonium is a plant-derived drug or preparation containing atropine and scopolamine, while atropine is one of the specific alkaloids found in it and is also produced separately.