As I noted last week, the  Solanaceae family, which contains tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, tomatillos, and eggplant, also contains some of the world's most poisonous plants. One of the poisons members of Solanaceae is the mandrake,  Mandragora officinarum. (Officinarum is the species name for the official medicinal version of a plant). Members of the genus  Mandragora contain tropane alkaloids which block certain neurotransmitters causing hypnotic and hallucinogenic effects. In ancient times it was used as a narcotic and aphrodisiac. As a narcotic (or analgesic) it was used to treat many painful conditions-abscesses, bone pain, cramps, complications of labor, and so on. Dosing was iffy, and people were aware that it was deadly.

The mandrake plant is a rosette with a large taproot that resembles the human body. This human shape and the deadly properties gave rise to numerous superstitions and supposed magical powers. In the medieval times, people believed one could die from pulling the plant up with his or her hands, but that it was safe to handle once removed.  Some of the recommend methods for removing it involved tying a black dog to the plant, either dead, mad, or starving. If starving, one then scattered fresh meat near the tethered dog who extracted the plant as it rushed to retrieve the meat. For a dead dog, one merely pulled on the dog.

I prefer the staving dog version, and, since I love dogs, would posit the use of merely a hungry dog. 

 

There has been a long history of people attempting to discount superstitions surrounding mandrake. Some 350 years ago Theophrastus wrote  that it was f ar-fetched and irrelevant  to believe one should draw three circles round mandrake with a sword, and cut it with one's face towards the west ; and, at the cutting of the second piece, one should dance round the plant and say as many things as possible about the mysteries of love.

Nevertheless, belief in magical powers of mandrake persists to this day. You can buy it on Amazon in various formulations, and one product contains the following description: ... a whole mandrake root can be placed on the mantel in the home and will give the house protection, fertility and prosperity. Mandrake is also hung on the headboard for protection during sleep, carried to attract love and worn to prevent illness .  Mind you, it has been over 2300 years since Theophrastus cautioned against superstitions surrounding mandrakes.

So what does this have to do with tomatoes? When tomatoes were first taken to Europe from the New World, people recognized they were in the nightshade family. An Italian herbalist considered it to be an aphrodisiac along with nightshade (belladonna) and mandrake. The French called the tomato pomme d'amour. And, many people assumed tomatoes were poisonous-like the mandrake and belladonna.  

Next week: tomatoes and the correct mayonnaise for a tomato sandwich.