Hyoscyami folium

Hyoscyami folium, also known as henbane leaves, are the dried leaves (with or without flowering two-tips and occasional fruits) of Hyoscyamus niger, the black henbane.

Because of the low therapeutic breadth (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: cramp states in the area of the gastrointestinal tract; currently, according to today's knowledge phytotherapeutically no longer use!

Henbane leaves contain tropane total alkaloids (0.03 to 0.2 %) such as atropine, L-hyoscyamine, apoatropine, L-scopolamine. Further ingredients are choline, traces of essential oils and tanning agents.

As a drug, henbane leaves have the highest scopolamine content and therefore have centrally sedative properties. In addition, they have spasmolytic (especially on the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract) and narcotic effects.

Henbane leaves are used medicinally as an anticholinergic, for colds or spasms in the gastrointestinal tract and are contained in scar ointments.

The average single dose is 0.5g of the hyoscymic powder adjusted according to DAB. Maximum Tges dose is 3.0g.