EUROPEAN MANDRAKE (MANDRAGORA OFFICINARUM AND M. AUTUMNALIS)

Abstract

The roots and rhizomes of European Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum L. and M. autumn ali s Bertol.J contain tropane alkaloids and have a long history of usage in medicine. Investigations have shown that the histological characters of the roots and rhizomes of the two species are identical and are similar to those of At r op a belladonna root. They can be distinguished from belladonna root by the absence of fibres and lignified xylem parenchyma and by the presence of sclereids. Also, in mandrake root, prisms and irregular cluster crystals of calcium oxalate occur in addition to microsphenoids.