Question

Atropa belladonna yields medicine used for ______
A. Gastric ulcers
B. Checking the eyes
C. Leprosy
D. Constipation

Answer 1

Atropa belladonna is a poisonous plant and normally called belladonna. Despite being poisonous, it has many medicinal properties. The plant is also called deadly nightshade.

Step by step answer: Option A) Atropa belladonna or belladonna has two main constituents: Scopolamine and atropine. Scopolamine helps in reducing the secretions, thus helping in reducing acid secretion in the stomach. Gastric ulcers are the result of high acid secretion and scopolamine can treat gastric ulcers. It can also treat irritable bowel syndrome and other inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract.
Option B) Eyes are checked using an ophthalmoscope. In fact, blurred vision, dilated pupils are some of the side effects of atropine, the other component produced by Atropa belladonna. So, it does not yield medicine for the eyes.
Option C) Drugs like rifampicin and dapsone are used to treat leprosy. Some medicinal plants like Tinospora cardifolia, Euphorbia tirucalli, Calotropis Procera Linn, Cassia tora Linn, etc. are also used to treat leprosy but not Atropa belladonna.
Option D) Constipation is not treated by belladonna. In fact, belladonna worsens the condition of constipation. Bisacodyl, Docusate, polyethylene glycol, Pysillium, methylcellulose, etc. are used to treat constipation. The extracts of Roses, Plantago, and Manna of Hedysarum are also used to treat constipation.
Hence, the correct answer is an option (A).

Note: Belladonna is also used to treat Parkinson’s disease, acid reflux, motion sickness, pink eye, diverticulitis by extracting atropine, and scopolamine. Atropine is mainly used to decrease the heart rate and relax muscles. It can also improve conditions like asthma, fever, cough, arthritis pain but should be taken in proper amounts or else can be poisonous.