Hyoscyami folium

Hyoscyami folium, also known as henbane leaves, refers to the dried leaves (with or without flowering twin spikes and scattered fruits) of Hyoscyamus niger, the black henbane.

Due to the low therapeutic range (strong toxic 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!

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.

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

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