**4.3 Pharmacological activities (medicinal significance of** *Datura stramonium***)**

The World Health Organization estimates that four billion people, or about 80% of the world's population, already use herbal medicine for some component of primary health care. Plants produce a large number of secondary metabolites, which are a major source of many pharmacological medications [66]. *D. stramonium* is an effective cure for a variety of human illnesses, including ulcers, wounds, inflammation, rheumatism and gout, sciatica, bruising and swellings, fever, asthma, bronchitis, and toothache, according to Ayurvedic medicine. *D. stramonium* is used in a variety of folk medicine therapies [67]. Seeds with palm oil were used externally for insect bites and stings, and the juice of the leaves in heated milk was used to expel intestinal worms, especially cestodes When *Datura stramonium* leaves are combined with mustard oil, they can be used to treat skin problems. The juice of flower petals is used to treat earaches, and the seeds are used to treat coughs, fevers, and asthma. Seeds are smoked because of their narcotic properties [68]. Datura leaves, coupled with *Cannabis sativa* leaves and Neopicrorhizascrofulariflora stems, are mashed with water and applied to alleviate headaches in Western Nepal. Datura seeds are pulverized with rice grains and consumed orally for indigestion treatment. Fresh leaves are warmed and frequently placed on an injured body part before retiring to bed in portions of Central Nepal for the purported analgesic effect. Seeds are used as a tonic and febrifuge in India. Native Americans have utilized Datura seeds as a euphoric stimulant for many years when the leaves of *Datura stramonium* are mixed with mustard oil. It has been utilized as a medicinal agent in the United Kingdom since the 1800s [69].

*Pharmacological, Biopesticide, and Post-Harvest Loss Management Application of Jimsonweed… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102789*

#### *4.3.1 Anticancer properties*

At a therapeutic dose of 0.05 to 0.1 g, *D. stramonium* was found to have anticancer properties against human epidermal carcinoma of the nasopharynx. However, while utilizing Datura as an anticancer treatment, caution should be exercised because serious anticholinergic effects can develop [70].

#### *4.3.2 Women's infertility*

Datura flowers are an effective treatment for female infertility. The dried powder of Datura flowers is administered with honey 10 days after menstruation in a dosage of 120 mg. It is administered over a period of 5 to 7 days. This treatment is successful in cases of infertility caused by unknown factors [71].

### *4.3.3 Poisoning with organophosphates*

*Datura stramonium*, which contains atropine and other anticholinergic chemicals, is an effective treatment for OP's central cholinergic symptoms. Following a severe organophosphate poisoning, Bania et al. [72] observed that DS seed extracts were beneficial. DS seeds were boiled in water to generate a 2 mg/mL atropine solution, which was then given to male rats as a single intraperitoneal injection 5 minutes before the subcutaneous administration of 25 mg/kg dichlorvos. In a rat model of severe organophosphate poisoning, pretreatment with Datura seed extract greatly enhanced survival.

#### *4.3.4 Anti-asthmatic effects*

*D. stramonium* includes a number of alkaloids with anticholinergic and bronchodilating properties, including atropine and scopolamine. Atropine and scopolamine expand bronchial smooth muscle and alleviate asthmatic episodes by inhibiting muscarinic receptors (especially the M2 receptors) on airway smooth muscle and submucosal gland cells. According to Charpin et al. [73], cigarette is an efficient bronchodilator in asthmatic patients with minor airway blockage when *D. stramonium* is used as an antiasthmatic.

When a mother uses *D. stramonium* for asthma, the fetus is exposed to it, which causes a continuous release of acetylcholine and desensitization of nicotinic receptors, which can lead to lasting damage to the fetus [74].

#### *4.3.5 Analgesic effects*

The hot plate and formalin tests were used to assess the analgesic impact of alcoholic Datura seed in acute and chronic pain. When the extracts were given intraperitoneally to the rats, they relieved pain in a dose-dependent manner, with ED50s of 25 and 50 mg/kg in hot plate and formalin tests, respectively [75].

#### *4.3.6 Antiepileptic activity*

Rats were continuously administered one of three herbal treatments, *S. lateriflora*, *G. sempervirens*, and *D. stramonium*, through water supply for 30 days, 1 week after

status epilepticus was induced by a single injection of lithium (3 mEq/kg) and pilocarpine (30 g/kg), according to Peredery and Persinger [76]. During the treatment period and an additional 30 days when just tap water was administered, the number of spontaneous seizures per day was recorded for each rat during a 15-minute observation time. During therapy, rats given a dilute solution of the three herbal fluid extracts had no seizures. When the therapy was discontinued, the rats experienced a similar number of spontaneous seizures as the controls.
