The Mandrake Rootis an important nacrotic and aphrodisiac agent

The name Mandrake is generally given to six plant species of Mandragora family. These plants are native to Mediterranean region and some are even found in the Himalayas. It belongs to the family of Solanaceae. The best known example of mandrake is the European Mandrake, Mandragora officinarium. It has a short stem and a forked root which is fleshy, conical and looks like a carrot, which can run up to 1-1.3 meters in the ground. The stem bears a bunch of ovate flowers that are solitary with a bell shaped corolla of purple color and the fruits are fleshy orange berries. 

                               Mandrake was regarded an important item in occult sciences

Mandrake is known to humans since time immemorial. It is one of the best known aphrodisiacs. It is mentioned in The Bible, in the Song of Solomon, where it is called Dudiam, a sweet fruit with a pleasing odor, which was very much sought after by the male sex. It was used by the Egyptians and the Sumerians to increase potency and ensure fertility. The ancient Greeks used it as an narcotic and for anesthesia. Many myths and fancies surround it. The fully grown root of Mandrake resembles a human structure and hence it was, in ancient times, regarded as a trapped and tormented soul and thus it was widely associated with occult practices. In fact, in middle ages in Europe, anyone found to have Mandrake in its possession was condemned to death. It is, even now, called Satan’s Plant or Cere’s Apple (Cere was an evil sorcerer in Greek Mythology).

          The Mandrake Plant

This plant contains up to 0.4% of alkaloids, such as soladrine, atropine, mandragodine etc. It is exceptionally rich in mandragodine which is a powerful narcotic and hypnotic agent. In high concentrations t can cause respiratory paralysis and subsequent death. To administer someone with some one, 2 tbsp dried and powered root of mandrake is taken and it is mixed with Alcoholic Beverage. Two Table Spoons is enough to cause a painful death to a fully own human and it is not very easy to detect Mandrake poisoning.