Question
Biology Question on human health and disease
Which is the particular type of drug that is obtained from the plant whose one flowering branch is shown here?
A
Hallucinogen
B
Depressant
C
Stimulant
D
Pain-killer
Answer
Hallucinogen
Explanation
Solution
The plant illustrated in the diagram is Datura. Seeds of Datura stramonium are misused for their hallucinogenic properties because of the presence of anticholinergic alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine (= hyoscine). However, even in slight excess, they can cause death.