Classification (APG IV)
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Mandragora officinarum
Species: Mandrake - Mandragora officinarum L.

Botanical Description
Mandrake (Mandragora spp.) is a morphologically variable perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Solanaceae (nightshade) family. Its most distinctive feature is a long, thick, and branched root. The plant has an almost absent stem, with leaves growing in a basal rosette close to the ground. The size and shape of the leaves vary. They are typically elliptical, rough-textured (resembling beet leaves), with wavy margins, and can be either hairy or smooth. Flowers develop in the axils of the leaves. The flower stalks vary in length, reaching up to 45 cm.

The perianth is double, pentamerous, and fused. The sepals are 6–28 mm long and fused at the base up to two-thirds of their length. The petals range in color from greenish-white to pale blue or violet, measuring 12–65 mm in length, and are also fused at the base. The corolla is bell-shaped. There are five stamens, attached to the base of the petals, with varying lengths. The anthers are usually yellow or brown, but sometimes pale blue. The fruit is a spherical berry, 5–40 mm in diameter. When ripe, the fruit is glossy and yellow or orange, resembling a small tomato. [1,2]

Distribution
Mandrake is endemic to the Mediterranean region and is found in Cyprus, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, and the Middle East. It has gone extinct in Italy.

Effects and Usage
Mandrake contains potent alkaloids, such as scopolamine, hyoscyamine, atropine, and mandragorine, which have strong effects on the central nervous system. [2,3]

The plant has been known since ancient times for its toxic and narcotic properties. Historically, it was used as a narcotic and aphrodisiac and was believed to possess magical powers. It was thought that the plant’s root was under the control of dark earth spirits. A widespread belief held that mandrake could only be safely unearthed at night under a full moon, following a ritual prayer and by tying it to a black dog with a string. Human hands were not supposed to touch the plant. In medieval times, it was said that pulling the mandrake from the ground would produce a scream that could kill or drive mad anyone who did not protect their ears. Once removed, however, it was believed to be useful for benevolent purposes such as healing, inducing love, promoting fertility, and ensuring restful sleep.

Even today, mandrake is occasionally used in homeopathy and folk medicine and has applications in modern witchcraft and occult practices. [2]

References
1. Mandragora L. Published on the Internet; http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-4000023017. Accessed on: 05 Jan 2024
2. Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2018, November 2). Mandrake. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/plant/mandrake-Mandragora-genus
3. Monadi, T., Azadbakht, M., Ahmadi, A., & Chabra, A. (2021). A Comprehensive Review on the Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of the Mandragora Genus; from Folk Medicine to Modern Medicine. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 27(34), 3609–3637. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612827666210203143445

Süstemaatiline kuuluvus (APG IV)
Riik: Taimed (Plantae)
Klaad: Soontaimed (Tracheophyta)
Klaad: Katteseemnetaimed (Angiospermae)
Klaad: Päriskaheidulehelised (Eudicotyledonae)
Selts: Maavitsalaadsed (Solanales)
Sugukond: Maavitsalised (Solanaceae)
Perekond: Mandragora (Mandragora)
Liik: Harilik alraun ehk mandragora - Mandragora officinarum L.

Botaaniline kirjeldus
Alraun on morforooglilselt muutlik mitmeaastane rohttaim maavitsaliste sugukonnast. Taime kõige eripärasemaks tunnuseks on pikk, paks, harunenud juur. Taimel on peaaegu puuduv vars - lehed kasvavad juurmiselt, maale ligi hoidvas rosetis. Lehtede suurus ja kuju varieeruvad. Tavaliselt on need elliptilised, krobelised (meenutavad lehtpeedi lehti) ja lainelise servaga, karvased või paljad. Õied arenevad lehtede kaenaldesse. Õievarred on varieeruva pikkusega, kuni 45 cm pikad.

Õiekate kaheli, viietine, liitlehine. Tupplehed 6-28 mm pikad, aluselt kuni kahe kolmandiku ulatuses kokku kasvanud. Kroonlehed on rohekvalgest kahvatu sinise või violetse värvusega, 12–65 mm pikad ja nagu tupplehedki, aluselt liitunud. Õiekroon on kellukjas. Tolmukaid on viis, need on kinnitunud kroonlehtede alustele ja nende pikkus varieerub. Tolmukapead on tavaliselt kollased või pruunid, kuid mõnikord kahvatud sinised. Vili on kerajas 5-40 mm läbimõõduga mari. Küpsena on vili läikiv ja kollane või oranž – meenutab väikest tomatit. [1,2]

Levila
Taim on Vahemeremaade endeem, levinud Küprosel, Horvaatias, Bosnias ja Hertsegoviinas, Türgis ning Lähis-Idas. Itaalias on taim välja surnud.

Toime ja kasutamine
Alraun sisaldab tugevatoimelisi alkaloide, nagu skopolamiin, hüosküamiin, atropiin ja mandragoriin, mis avaldavad tugevat mõju kesknärvisüsteemile. [2,3]

Taim on juba ammustest aegadest tuntud oma mürgiste ja narkootiliste omaduste poolest. Vanasti kasutati seda narkootikumina ja afrodisiaakumina ning usuti, et sellel on teatud maagilised jõud. Arvati, et taime juur on tumedate maavaimude võimuses. Levis uskumus, et mandragoorat saab ohutult üles kaevata ainult kuupaistel, pärast sobivat palvet ja rituaali, sidudes taime musta koeraga nööriga. Inimkäed ei tohtinud taimega kokku puutuda. Keskaegsetel aegadel arvati, et mandragoorat maast välja tõmmates kostab karje, mis tapab või ajab hulluks neid, kes ei sulgenud oma kõrvu selle eest. Pärast taime maast vabastamist sai seda kasutada heatahtlikel eesmärkidel, näiteks ravimiseks, armastuse esilekutsumiseks, raseduse soodustamiseks ja rahuliku une tagamiseks. Mandragorat kasutatakse siiani aeg-ajalt homöopaatias ja rahvameditsiinis ning sellel on rakendusi kaasaegses nõiakunstis ja okultismis. [2]

Kasutatud allikad  
1. Mandragora L. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-4000023017. Accessed on: 05 Jan 2024
2. Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2018, November 2). mandrake. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/plant/mandrake-Mandragora-genus
3. Monadi, T., Azadbakht, M., Ahmadi, A., & Chabra, A. (2021). A Comprehensive Review on the Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of the Mandragora Genus; from Folk Medicine to Modern Medicine. Current pharmaceutical design, 27(34), 3609–3637. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612827666210203143445