Mandrake
Mandragora officinarum, M. autumnalisThe legend of uprooting it with a dog already appears in the writings of the historian Josephus in the 1st century AD.
What is Mandrake?
Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) is a plant of the Solanaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Part used: root.
What is Mandrake used for?
Traditional use: Its human-shaped root made it a plant of magic and love. Scientific evidence: traditional. The root contains scopolamine and hyoscyamine, whose sedative effect explains its ancient use in anaesthesia.
Is Mandrake safe?
Safety label: high risk. The whole plant is poisonous. The fruit and root can cause hallucinations, heart rhythm problems and respiratory arrest. Roots sold in markets as “aphrodisiacs” are dangerous.
Traditional use
Its human-shaped root made it a plant of magic and love. People believed it screamed when pulled up and had to be tied to a dog to be uprooted.
In ancient Greece it was added to wine as an anaesthetic before surgery. The “dudaim” of the Hebrew Bible is thought to be mandrake.
In nature
Mix-up risk
Its leaf rosette can be mistaken for edible greens; poisonings have happened this way.
Preparation
Not recommended to prepare or use.
What science says
The root contains scopolamine and hyoscyamine, whose sedative effect explains its ancient use in anaesthesia.
Safety
The whole plant is poisonous. The fruit and root can cause hallucinations, heart rhythm problems and respiratory arrest. Roots sold in markets as “aphrodisiacs” are dangerous.
Drug interactions
| Medicine or substance | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Anticholinergic drugs | Tropane alkaloids act the same way; poisoning symptoms multiply. |
| Sedatives and alcohol | Increases confusion. |
This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Mandrake.
Culture bridge
Human-shaped roots. East Asia’s ginseng and the Mediterranean’s mandrake were seen as magical and sacred because their roots look human. Read the comparison →
Similar plants
Sources
- ResearchA Comprehensive Review on the Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of the Mandragora Genus
- ResearchIn search of traces of the mandrake myth: the historical and ethnobotanical roots of its vernacular names
- BookBaytop T. Türkiye’de Bitkiler ile Tedavi: Geçmişte ve Bugün. 2. baskı. İstanbul: Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri; 1999.
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Mandragora officinarum
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe