Datura / thorn apple
Datura spp.Solanaceae // seeds · leaves · flowers · roots
Also known as: jimsonweed, toloache, devil's trumpet
Preparation
Overview
Plant parts
seeds, leaves, flowers, roots
Known constituents
scopolamine, atropine, hyoscyamine
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- Principal reported constituents include scopolamine, atropine, hyoscyamine; broad class: antimuscarinic tropane alkaloids; deliriants.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
No traditional-use records in this corpus.
Modern evidence
Species, common names and Brugmansia are often confused; alkaloid concentration is highly variable.
MODERATE · Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Datura Species—A Review
Identity/attribution caution.
Safety
Human
- Critical
Safety severity is CRITICAL: severe anticholinergic syndrome, delirium, amnesia, hyperthermia, arrhythmia, coma and death
Intrinsic toxicity · HIGH · Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Datura Species—A Review
Dogs
- High risk
Jimson weed is toxic to dogs; ingestion of any plant part containing atropine-like toxic alkaloids may cause gastrointestinal upset, decreased gastrointestinal motility or constipation, dilated pupils, elevated heart rate, skin flushing, and neurologic abnormalities.
Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Whole plant; all plant parts · HIGH · poison_control_database · Jimson Weed Is Toxic To Dogs
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
Safety severity is CRITICAL: severe anticholinergic syndrome, delirium, amnesia, hyperthermia, arrhythmia, coma and death
HIGH · Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Datura Species—A Review
Jimson weed is toxic to dogs; ingestion of any plant part containing atropine-like toxic alkaloids may cause gastrointestinal upset, decreased gastrointestinal motility or constipation, dilated pupils, elevated heart rate, skin flushing, and neurologic abnormalities.
HIGH · poison_control_database · Jimson Weed Is Toxic To Dogs
The page provides no cat-specific evidence; no cat claim is made.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- whole herbHigh risk
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
Identity
Common name
jimsonweed, toloache, devil's trumpet
Traditions
Multiple distinct traditions in the Americas, South Asia and elsewhere
global; do not merge traditions // ancient historical references and living folk traditions // historical and living traditions
Ethnobotanical
Datura / thorn apple is documented in Multiple distinct traditions in the Americas, South Asia and elsewhere in global; do not merge traditions for healing, divination, initiation, ordeal and protective uses.
HIGH · Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Datura Species—A Review
Ritual
Documented functions include healing, divinatory, initiatory, protective; these functions are tradition-specific and should not be generalized across cultures.
HIGH · Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Datura Species—A Review
Legal
Legal status changes over time and by jurisdiction — this is a dated snapshot, not current law.
International · Checked 2026-08-09
Varies substantially by country; constituent controls and plant-specific controls are not uniform.
State / municipal · Checked 2026-08-09
Material state and municipal variation may apply; verify jurisdiction at time of use.
US Federal · Checked 2026-08-09
Not generally federally scheduled as plants; poisoning and criminal statutes may apply.
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
peer-reviewed article
- Jimson Weed Is Toxic To Dogs2 claims
poison_control_database
government/regulatory source