Between love, medicine and poison: A review of Datura stramonium (Toloache) in Mexican Ethnobotany

This review compiles and synthesizes ethnobotanical, pharmacological, and toxicological information on Datura stramonium L. (Solanaceae), commonly known in Mexico as “Toloache.” Based on an extensive bibliographic survey, a total of 43 distinct medicinal and ritual uses were recorded, with leaves being the most frequently employed plant part (25 uses), followed by seeds, roots, and flowers. The highest number of uses correspond to the respiratory system (10 records), including treatments for asthma, cough, whooping cough, and influenza. The musculoskeletal system ranks second (eight uses), with applications for rheumatism, joint pain, neuralgia, and neuritis, while the integumentary system occupies third place (seven uses), addressing burns, ulcers, acne, erysipelas, superficial tumors, and wounds. Beyond these biomedical categories, D. stramonium holds important cultural value in Mexico, particularly in traditional medicine and rituals for culturally defined illnesses such as love-sickness and fright, as well as other ailments. The plant’s pharmacological properties are largely attributed to its potent tropane alkaloids, especially hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which confer bronchodilator, antispasmodic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, these compounds also make the species highly toxic, with a very narrow therapeutic window, requiring caution in its use and emphasizing the need for controlled pharmacological research to validate traditional practices.