Ethnobotanical investigations on anticholinergic Solanaceae plants in EuropeFatur, Karsten (Avtor) Kreft, Samo (Mentor) ethnobotanySolanaceaeanticholinergic alkaloidsEuropeSloveniaThe current research focused on the ethnobotanical uses and context of the anticholinergic members of the botanical family Solanaceae in Europe by using a range of methods such as historical analysis, literature review, ethnographic techniques, HPLC, and botanical sampling. Though the research showed a high degree of knowledge and use for these plants in the past populations of Europe, this has petered away with time. The ethnographic research focused in Slovenia showed very little knowledge of these plants and even less use. HPLC verified the ability of different traditional preparation methods to extract alkaloids from these plants, thus validating aspects of the historical literature. These same techniques combined with plant sampling suggested that Slovenia's endemic Scopolia carniolica var. hladnikiana falls within the normal variation for the species and confirmed its ethnobotanical equivalence to the more common variety. The toxicity of these plants is well-confirmed, and a theory is put forth for the use of one of them among the ancient Viking berserkers to enter their rage state in battle.20212021-06-19 07:15:09Doktorsko delo/naloga127679sl