European Mandrake
OTHER NAME(S): Alraunwurzel, Mandragora, Mandragore Officinale, Mandragore des Sorcières, Mandrake, Manzana de Satán, Racine de Sorcière, Satan's Apple, Mandragora officinarum, Mandragora vernalis, Mandrágora, Mandragore
Overview
European mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) is an herb. It is used in traditional medicine. All parts of the plant may be poisonous.
European mandrake may contain chemicals that can affect many body systems, including the bladder, eyes, and heart.
Despite safety concerns, people sometimes use European mandrake for asthma, excessive crying in infants (colic), hay fever, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse European mandrake with other plants that are also called mandrake, including bryonia (English mandrake) and podophyllum (American mandrake). These are not the same.
Uses
We currently have no information for European Mandrake overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: European mandrake is likely unsafe. It may contain chemicals that can cause many side effects, including confusion, drowsiness, dry mouth, heart problems, vision problems, overheating, problems with urination, and hallucinations. Large doses can be fatal.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: European mandrake is likely unsafe. It may contain chemicals that can cause many side effects, including confusion, drowsiness, dry mouth, heart problems, vision problems, overheating, problems with urination, and hallucinations. Large doses can be fatal.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: European mandrake is likely unsafe when taken by mouth while pregnant or breast-feeding. It may contain chemicals that can affect the fetus and cause serious side effects. Avoid use.
Children: European mandrake is likely unsafe when taken by mouth in children. Children are especially sensitive to harmful chemicals it may contain.
Down syndrome: Don't give European mandrake to people with Down syndrome. They are especially sensitive to the harmful chemicals it may contain.
Heart conditions including heart failure, coronary artery disease, and fast and irregular heartbeat: Don't take European mandrake if you have one of these conditions. It could make your condition worse.
Liver problems: Don't take European mandrake if you have liver disease. It could make your condition worse.
Kidney problems: Don't take European mandrake if you have kidney disease. It could make your condition worse.
High blood pressure: Don't take European mandrake if you have high blood pressure. It could make your condition worse.
Over-active thyroid: Don't take European mandrake if you have thyroid problems. It could make your condition worse.
An autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness and muscle fatigue (myasthenia gravis): Don't take European mandrake if you have myasthenia gravis. It could make your condition worse.
A group of eye disorders that can lead to vision loss (glaucoma): Don't take European mandrake if you have glaucoma. It could make your condition worse.
Digestive tract conditions such as heartburn or "gastroesophageal reflux disease" (GERD), a hiatal hernia, an infection, stomach ulcer, constipation, a blockage, ulcerative colitis, a serious condition called toxic megacolon, or other digestive disorders: Don't take European mandrake if you have any of these conditions. It could make your condition worse.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Drying medications (Anticholinergic drugs) interacts with European MandrakeEuropean mandrake may block a chemical in the body called acetylcholine, which has many important functions. Some medications, called anticholinergic drugs, also block acetylcholine. There is some concern that taking them together might increase the risk for confusion, blurred vision, decreased sweating, and increased heart rate.
- Medications taken by mouth (Oral drugs) interacts with European MandrakeEuropean mandrake seems to slow down the bowels. Taking European mandrake along with medications taken by mouth might increase how much medicine your body absorbs. Increasing how much medicine your body absorbs can increase the effects and side effects of your medicines.
Dosing
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of European mandrake might be. European mandrake can also be unsafe. Speak with a healthcare provider before use.
References
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
- Ellenhorn MJ, et al. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology: Diagnoses and Treatment of Human Poisoning. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1997.
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Agri Res Svc: Dr. Duke's phytochemical and ethnobotanical databases. http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke (Accessed 3 November 1999).
- Germplasm Resources Info. http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs (Accessed 3 November 1999).
- Helbling A, Brander KA, Pichler WJ. Anaphylactic shock after subcutaneous injection of mandragora D3, a homeopathic drug. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;106:989-90.
- Shim KH, Kang MJ, Sharma N, An SSA. Beauty of the beast: anticholinergic tropane alkaloids in therapeutics. Nat Prod Bioprospect. 2022;12(1):33.
- Tsiligianni IG, Vasilopoulos TK, Papadokostakis PK, et al. A two cases clinical report of mandragora poisoning in primary care in Crete, Greece: two case report. Cases J. 2009;2:9331.
- Benítez G, Leonti M, Böck B, Vulfsons S, Dafni A. The rise and fall of mandrake in medicine. J Ethnopharmacol. 2023;303:115874.
- Piatti D, Marconi R, Angeloni S, et al. Simultaneous quantification of hyoscyamine and scopolamine using HPLC-DAD in four Solanaceae: Hyoscyamus niger, Datura stramonium, Atropa belladonna and Mandragora officinarum. Nat Prod Res. 2025 Feb;39(3):438-443. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2269595. Epub 2023 Oct 13.
- Hanus LO, Rezanka T, Spízek J, Dembitsky VM. Substances isolated from Mandragora species. Phytochemistry. 2005;66(20):2408-17.