A question for you Beeks

[histopicker]

We have a plant that grows here called Jimson weed or some call it Loco weed. The seeds of this plant contain the chemicals Atropine and Scopolamine. Both of these are very dangerous drugs, the bees like the plants. Do you think it possible the drug could be present in the honey? These drugs cause very severe hallucinations and renal failure. I doubt there would be large enough quantities of these in the honey but it is something to ponder.

[Brad H.]

I just read an article about a tribe in South America or Africa that harvests honey of a bee from a certain area that more or less gives them a hallucinogenic high. I will have to dig it up.

[bk]

Sept 3, 2015 18:51:42 GMT -5 histopicker said:

We have a plant that grows here called Jimson weed or some call it Loco weed. The seeds of this plant contain the chemicals Atropine and Scopolamine. Both of these are very dangerous drugs, the bees like the plants. Do you think it possible the drug could be present in the honey? These drugs cause very severe hallucinations and renal failure. I doubt there would be large enough quantities of these in the honey but it is something to ponder.

That got me thinking, histopicker.  Then a little research.  Found an abstract " Fifteen cases of atropine poisoning after honey ingestion" by M Ramirez dating to March of 1999.  Could only get a brief overview as they wanted me to buy a subscription.  I didn't.  I might be interested, but not that interested. 

" Fifteen persons developed atropine poisoning following consumption of wasp honey. Clinical signs, antidotal response and the presence of Datura plants near the wasp nests supported that the intoxications were caused by ingestion of atropine-contaminated honey. Two deaths occurred from heatstroke because of the poisoning and high environment temperatures and intensive physical activity."

Also found "The Delphic Bee: Bees and Toxic Honeys as Pointers to Psychoactive and Other Medicinal Plants" by Jonathan Ott.  Can see this one at www.jstor.org/stable/4256092?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Does sound like it can be present in honey.  Guess It would depend on the amount of Atropine and Scopolamine (how much pure Jimson Weed honey it is, or how reduced it is with other flowers.

Great question...still thinking (and reading), histopicker.