Hyoscyamine (Tropane Alkaloid · Antispasmodic · Khurasani Ajwain · IBS · Levsin)
| Compound | Hyoscyamine (L-Hyoscyamine / Levsin) |
| Chemical class | Alkaloid — Tropane (L-Enantiomer of atropine; pharmacologically active form) |
| CAS | 101-31-5 |
| Primary source | Hyoscyamus niger (henbane / Khurasani Ajwain), Atropa belladonna, Datura stramonium |
| Key applications | Pharmaceutical anticholinergic; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), antispasmodic; urinary urgency; informational reference |
| Claim strength | High (as pharmaceutical antispasmodic); Moderate (via Hyoscyamus niger extract) |
| Typical form | Pharmaceutical tablet (Levsin 0.125 mg); Hyoscyamus niger extract (traditional/Unani botanical) |
| Buy from Herbuno | Khurasani Ajwain Oil Soluble Extract - Hyoscyamus Niger → |
Name origin: From Hyoscyamus (henbane genus). Hyoscyamine is the L-(−)-enantiomer of the racemic atropine (dl-hyoscyamine). In plants, hyoscyamine is the naturally occurring form; it racemises to atropine during extraction. Hyoscyamine (L-form only) is approximately twice as pharmacologically potent as atropine (racemic mixture) at equivalent doses because only the L-enantiomer binds muscarinic receptors with high affinity. Traditional use: Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger, Khurasani Ajwain in Hindi/Urdu) has been used in Ayurveda, Unani, and European traditional medicine for millennia — as an analgesic, antispasmodic, sedative, and for dental pain. Ancient Greek physicians used it for pain; medieval European physicians used it as an anaesthetic adjunct. The Unani tradition specifically uses Khurasani Ajwain seed preparations for digestive and urinary antispasmodic applications at carefully controlled doses — reflecting sophisticated traditional pharmacological knowledge of the dose-dependency of Hyoscyamus alkaloids. Current pharmaceutical status: Hyoscyamine sulfate (Levsin, Anaspaz) is FDA-approved for: (1) functional bowel/IBS — smooth muscle antispasmodic; (2) urinary urgency/frequency; (3) pre-anaesthetic medication; (4) organophosphate poisoning (as atropine alternative). Commercial source: Khurasani Ajwain Oil Soluble Extract (Hyoscyamus niger) from Herbuno delivers hyoscyamine as the primary active constituent. This is a botanical extract for traditional/Unani applications — commercial use in supplements requires appropriate regulatory framing in target markets.
Evidence for Hyoscyamine Applications
IBS and bowel antispasmodic — pharmaceutical: Hyoscyamine is widely prescribed for IBS-associated cramping and spasm — M3 receptor antagonism in GI smooth muscle reduces intestinal motility and cramping. Multiple clinical studies support antispasmodic benefit for IBS abdominal pain. FDA OTC classification is complex — some formulations are prescription (Levsin), others are non-prescription in certain dosing. Claim strength: High (as pharmaceutical).
Urinary urgency and frequency: Hyoscyamine reduces detrusor muscle overactivity via M2/M3 antagonism in the bladder — relevant for overactive bladder (OAB) and urge urinary incontinence. At 0.125 mg doses, it reduces involuntary detrusor contractions without complete urinary retention in most patients. Elderly patients require careful dose adjustment (anticholinergic cognitive effects are more pronounced). Claim strength: High (pharmaceutical).
Traditional Unani/Ayurvedic applications (Khurasani Ajwain): Hyoscyamus niger seed preparations in Unani medicine are specifically used for neurological pain (neuralgia), joint pain (as external and internal application), and urinary complaints — at doses calibrated by traditional prescribers to deliver therapeutic but sub-toxic hyoscyamine exposure. The Unani differentiation of specific doses and preparations (tinctures vs decoctions vs external applications) reflects empirically developed pharmacological knowledge. Claim strength: Moderate (traditional use; consistent with pharmacological mechanism).
Khurasani Ajwain Oil Soluble Extract - Hyoscyamus Niger →
Browse Standardised Extract Powders →
Dosage & Formulator Specification
Pharmaceutical dose: 0.125–0.25 mg hyoscyamine sulfate orally 3–4×/day (standard IBS antispasmodic); maximum 1.5 mg/day. Khurasani Ajwain traditional Unani dose: 0.25–1 g seed preparation (providing ~0.01–0.05 mg hyoscyamine per gram seed, highly variable by preparation method). For botanical extract (Hyoscyamus niger), request total alkaloid content by HPLC with hyoscyamine and scopolamine specified individually. SAFETY: Hyoscyamine has narrow therapeutic margin. All Hyoscyamus preparations must carry: avoid in: narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, myasthenia gravis, elderly (fall risk from anticholinergic effects), pregnancy. Not for children without medical supervision. The Oil Soluble Extract from Herbuno is appropriate for topical formulation contexts; internal supplement use requires appropriate regulatory framing and low-dose standardisation.
Frequently Asked Questions — Hyoscyamine
Is hyoscyamine the same as atropine?
Hyoscyamine is the L-enantiomer of atropine (which is dl-hyoscyamine, a 50:50 racemic mixture). In pharmacological activity, L-hyoscyamine is approximately twice as potent as racemic atropine because the D-enantiomer has very low muscarinic receptor affinity. In plants, hyoscyamine is the naturally occurring form; racemisation to atropine occurs during extraction. Levsin (pharmaceutical hyoscyamine) provides the active L-form only, allowing lower doses with equivalent effect compared to atropine.
What is Khurasani Ajwain and is it safe?
Khurasani Ajwain (Hyoscyamus niger seeds) is distinct from common Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi, a safe culinary carminative with no tropane alkaloids). The “Khurasani” qualifier is critical — Khurasani Ajwain specifically refers to henbane (Hyoscyamus) and is pharmacologically active with a narrow therapeutic margin. At traditional Unani-prescribed doses, Khurasani Ajwain has centuries of empirical use for pain and urinary conditions. Self-administration without traditional prescriber guidance is dangerous — the alkaloid content and dose calibration require expert knowledge.
Can hyoscyamine be used for motion sickness like scopolamine?
Both hyoscyamine and scopolamine are muscarinic antagonists with antiemetic and antivertigo properties. Scopolamine is specifically preferred for motion sickness because it has greater CNS penetration (the epoxide ring increases lipophilicity and CNS access). Hyoscyamine has more peripheral anticholinergic effects relative to central effects. However, hyoscyamine in GI antispasmodic formulations does reduce nausea and GI cramping associated with GI motility disorders — a related but not identical application.
Is the Herbuno Khurasani Ajwain extract appropriate for internal supplement use?
The Khurasani Ajwain Oil Soluble Extract from Herbuno is primarily intended for topical formulation contexts (external analgesic, anti-inflammatory). For internal supplement use, the hyoscyamine content must be quantified, the dose per serving must be confirmed to be well below pharmaceutical adverse effect thresholds, and appropriate regulatory advice for the target market must be obtained. The traditional Unani internal use at precisely controlled doses differs from typical mass-market supplement formulation contexts. Contact Herbuno for detailed CoA with alkaloid quantification for any intended internal formulation.
Related compounds: Atropine, Scopolamine, Pilocarpine, Vasicinone
Claim-strength scale – High = multiple human RCTs; Moderate = limited trials or strong preclinical convergence; Emerging = early-stage lab or animal data.
← HerbIQ Compound Index · HerbIQ P02: Extraction · HerbIQ P03: Delivery