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 Botany
Erect, branched, smooth herb, up to 1 meter in height. Stems
are green and 3-angled. Leaves are obate to oblong, 5-8 cm long,
pointed at both ends, with subentire or undulately toothed or
lobed margins. The flowers are umbellately disposed, 5 - 8 on
each peduncle. Calyx is green with ovate-oblong lobes. Corolla
is white, aboout 8 mm diameter. Fruit or berry is darp purple
or black, smooth, shiing, rounded, about 5 mm in diameter. Seeds
are yellow and minutely pitted.
Distribution
Throughout the Philippines
in open, waste places, recently disturbed soil; from sea level
to a height of 2000 meters.
Parts
utilized
Stalks, leaves, roots, fruits.
Chemical constituents
• The leaves yield a mydiratic alkaloid;
the fruit, a saponin.
• Analysis of the cultivated large-fruit variety show it to be a rich
source of calcium and phosphorus and a good source of iron.
• Some studies suggested a poisoning from ingestion of the fruit; other
suggest that as the fruit matures, it gradually decreases in toxicity,
and when ripe, contains nontoxic amounts of solanin.
• Extract studies yielded saponin, flavonoids, coumarins, phytosterols, tannins, fixed oils and fats.
Properties
Considered analagesic, antispasmodic, antiinflammatory and vasodilatory.
Young shoots, eaten after boiling, considered corrective, cooling, tonic
to men (improves virility) and women (improves menses).
Toxicity
!
Plant is narcotic and antispasmodic, and like beladonna, dilates
the pupils.
Poisoning presents as vomiting, diarrhea, headache, colic and
depression.
Effect on the eyes start half an hour after ingestion; mydriasis
is maximum in 6 hours. Throat dryness in less than 2 hours, persisting
for 50 hours.
Treatment usually through an emetic and use of a tannin-containing
solution.
Uses
Folkloric
The fruit is used as a cosmetic; rubbing
the seeds on the cheeks to remove freckles.
The mature fruit is harmlessly and extensively eaten by children.
The fruit has been used fior diabetes.
Poulitice of leaves is sedative and has healing properties.
Poultice of roots, stems and leaves used for sores, boils and wounds.
Roots have been used for bubonic plague.
Decoction of stalk, leaves, roots used for wounds and cancerous sores.
Juice of leaves used for kidney problems and gonorrhea.
Infusion of leaves used as enema for abdominal upsets in children.
Paste of green berries used for ringworm.
Decoction of juice herb used for cleaning foul ulcers.
Decoction of plant used for vaginal irrigation.
Heated leaves used for testicular pains and swellings.
Poultice of leaves applied to infant cradles to induce sleep.
The fruit has been used for erysipelas.
Decoction of berries and flowers used for cough and consumption.
In Ayurveda, used for
treatment of gastric ulcers.
Nutritional
Fruit of some varieties is edible,
excellent for use in pies and jams.
Young shoots are eaten like spinach; the boiled leaves are edible.
Cosmetic
Seeds of fresh fruit rubbed on cheeks
to remove freckles and improve the complexion.
Studies
• Larvicidal:
Studies on larvicidal properties of leaf extract of Solanum
nigrum Linn. Prelim results of the crude extract leaf study showed it
exhibited toxicity to three disease vector species – An. culicifacies,
Cx quinquefasciatus and Ae aegypti, and suggests further investigation.
• Anti-Seizure: Anti-seizure
activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Solanum nigrum linn (solanaceae)
in experimental animals : Leaf extract
of SN produced a dose-dependent protection against electrically, pentylenetetrazole
and picrotoxin-induced seizures in mice and rates. The anticonvulsant
property was potentiated by amphetamine with an activity probably via
the dopaminergic pathway.
• Antioxidant effect of methanolic
extract of Solanum nigrum berries on aspirin induced gastric mucosal
injury : Study suggests that SN berries may have therapeutic
potential in the treatment of gastric diseases.
• Hepatoprotective:
(1) Inhibitory effect of Solanum nigrum on thioacetamide-induced
liver fibrosis in mice: Study confirmed SNE reduced the degree of fibrosis
caused by TAA treatment. (2) Ethanol extract showed
remarkable hepatoprotective activity against carbontetrachloride-induced
hepatic damage in rats.
• Hepatoprotective / Antioxidant:
(1) Study showed the water extract of S. nigrum could protect the liver against carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative damage in rats. The hepatoprotective effect could be due to its modulation of enzyme detoxification, its antioxidant and free-radical scavenging effects. (2) Crude extracts of hepatoprotective plants,
Solanum nigrum and Cichorium intybus inhibit free radical-mediated DNA
damage; CI effect was more pronounced
than SN. Hepatoprotective effects may be due to suppression of oxidative
degradations of DNA in tissue debris.
• Cytoprotective:
A 50% ethanol extract of the whole plant of SN was tested in vitro for
cytoprotection against gentamicin-induced toxicity on Vero cells. Results
showed significant inhibition of cytotoxicity. It also showed significant
radical scavenging potential explaning its probable mechanism of cytoprotection.
• Anti-Tumor / Immunomodulation:
(1) Study showed the the crude polysaccharides isolated from
S nigrum possess potent antitumor activity, possibly through activation
of different immune responses in the host rather than a direct attack
on cancer cells on cervical cancer bearing mice. It suggests a potential
for use as an immunomodulator and anticancer agent. (2) Study showed extract of SN induced cell death in hepatoma cells via
two distinct antineoplastic activities - the ability to induce apoptosis
and autophagocytosis, suggesting potential for the treatment of liver
cancer.
• Anti-Ulcer / Ulcer Healing Effects:
Study showed Solanum nigrum extract provides antiulcer activity through
blockage of acid secretion via inhibition of H+K+ATPase and decrease
of gastrin secretion; its ulcer healing property might also be due to
its antisecretory activity.
• Anti-Angiogenesis:
Study showed Solanum nigrtum could inhibit the angiogenesis on chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM).
• Cytotoxicity / Anticancer:
In a study evaluating the anticancer activity of the fruits of Solanum nigrum fruits, results showed the methanolic extract with greater activity on the HeLa cell line and little activity on the Vero cell line, suggesting use for its anticancer activity.
• Anti-Inflammatory: Study on the methanoli extracts of berries of S. nigrum showed good anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan-induced paw edema.
• Antioxidant / Antihyperlipidemic: Study showed significant antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activity of Solanum nigrum fruits, providing protection against ethanol-induced toxicity.
• Antihepatoma / Antihepatocarcinogenesis: Study showed SN water extract supplement significantly alleviated the AAF-induced hepatic injury and early hepatocarcinogenesis, as well as the AAF/NaNO2-induced lethal hepatoma, possibly from the overexpression of glutathione S-transferases, Nrf2 and antioxidant enzymes.
• Anticonvulsant: Study showed a significant dose-dependent effect against seizures induced by MES (maximum electric shock) in rats. The seizure inhibition may be by regulating GABA-mediated synaptic inhibition through action at distinct sites of the synapse.
• Seeds Oil / Physiochemical Properties: Study showed: (1) seeds are rich in protein and carbohydrate (2) Seed oil yields oleodilinolein (OLL) 56.54% of total triacylglycerols, palmitooleo-linolein (POL) and dioleolinolein (OOL). (3) Oil extracts showed good physiochemical properties and can be useful as edible oils and for industrial uses.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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