The common name of Hyoscyamus niger, the poisonous nightshade containing tropane alkaloids, is henbane.
Hyoscyamus niger is usually called henbane, black henbane, or stinking nightshade. It belongs to the nightshade family, Solanaceae, and is native to temperate Europe and Siberia. The plant has a long history of medicinal, ritual, and poisonous use, but its chemistry makes uncontrolled consumption extremely dangerous.
Its leaves and seeds contain tropane alkaloids including hyoscyamine and scopolamine. These compounds interfere with acetylcholine signaling and can cause dilated pupils, dry mouth, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, convulsions, coma, or death. Toxicity varies with the plant part and preparation, so traditional use never makes raw henbane safe.
Henbane is often confused with mandrake and deadly nightshade because all three are poisonous Solanaceae plants associated with folklore and magic. Historical writers described henbane as a sedative and analgesic, and it was once used in preparations such as gruit beer. The name “henbane” has been recorded in English since the thirteenth century.