Henbane black

Witchweed, doll's ear, Hyoscyamus niger

Black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) is a poisonous plant from the henbane genus within the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and is widespread in Europe, Asia and Africa. The plant grows up to 50 cm tall, has a hairy, sticky stem, 20 cm long leaves and dirty yellowish flowers with dark purple veins. The fruits, bulbous 1.5 cm long capsules, contain up to 200 gray-brown seeds. Flowering time: June to October, fruit ripening: August to October.

The dried leaves, flower or fruit-bearing branch tips (Hyoscyamus leaves - Hyoscyami folium) have been used phytopharmacologically.

Due to the low therapeutic range (strong poisonous effect of the tropane alkaloids!), henbane is no longer used today.

HMPC: preparation of a monograph discontinued in 2011

ESCOP: no monograph

Commission E: monograph in 1988: spasmodic conditions in the gastrointestinal tract; currently, according to current knowledge, no longer used phytotherapeutically!

The black henbane can be a one or two year old plant. In biennial plants, only one leaf rosette appears in the first year, the flower itself only in the second year. The flowering period is from June to October. The plant usually reaches a height of 30 to 60 cm, but more rarely it can grow up to 170 cm. The funnel-shaped flower is yellowish white. The fruit of the plant is a bulbous capsule about 1.5 cm long.

Hyoscyamus niger is the parent plant of Hyoscyami folium (positively monographed by Commission E), the henbane leaves.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/bilsenkraut.php

2. Montag A (2023) Plants and skin. Springer-Verlag GmbH. S. 395-396