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Family Solanaceae

Talong
Solanum melongena L.
EGGPLANT

Qie zi

Scientific names Common names
Solanum melongena L. Berengena (Span.)
Solanum cumingii Dunal Brinjal (English) 
Solanum pressum Dunal Talong (Bik., Tag., Bis., Bon.) 
  Tarong (Ilk.) 
  Tolung (Sul.) 
  Aubergine (Europe)
  Eggplant (English) 
  Qie zi (Chin.) 

Botany
A coarse, branched, prickly or unarmed, erect, half-woody plant, growing to a height of 0.5 to 1 meter. Leaves are ovate to oblong-ovate, 10-25 cm long, hairy beneath, with shallowly lobed margins. Flowers are axillary, purplish, about 2.5 cm long. Fruit is fleshy, smooth, purple, up to 25 cm long, variable in shape, round, oblong, or cylindric-oblong.

Distribution
Cultivated throughout the Philippines for the edible fruit; the elongated variety, the most cultivated.



Constituents and properties
Fruit contains trigonelline; choline; vitamins A. B, and C; fat, 01%; and protein, 2.2 %.
Phytochemical studies have yielded flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and steroids.
Study isolated stigmasterol 1, stigmasterol-ß-D-glucoside 2, ß-sitosterol-ß-D-glucoside 3, dioscin 4, protodioscin 5 and methly protodioscin 6.


Parts used and preparation
Fruits, roots.


Uses:
Nutritional
Fruit is an excellent vegetable and popular in the rural day-to-day cuisine.
A good source of vitamins A, B, and C.
A good source of calcium, phosphorus, and iron; carbohydrates and fiber.

Folkloric
Decoction of roots taken internally for asthma and as a general stimulant.
Leaves are used for piles.
The boiled root of the wild plant, mixed with sour milk and grain porridge has been used for the treatment of syphilis.
Decoction of roots, dried stalk, and leaves is used for washing sores, exudative surfaces.
The juice of leaves used for throat and stomach troubles.
The fruit, bruised with vinegar, is used as a poultice for abscesses and cracked nipples.
In Taiwan folk medicine, roots are used for rheumatism, inflammation and foot pain.

In India, juice of various plant parts and pulp of fruits of S. melongena and its wild allies used for various ailments: diabetges, otitis, toothaches, cholera, bronchitis, asthma, dysuria, among many others.

Studies
Hypocholesterolemic: (1) Study on human volunteers showed that S. melongena infusion showed a significant reduction of the blood levels of total and LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. (2) Study of New Zealand hypercholesterolemic white rabbits fed with diets supplemented with SM fruits showed significant reduction of TC, triglycerides, and LDL, with a 24.7% increase in HDL cholesterol. The strong hypolipidemic effect with the improved HDL/LDL ratio suggests a potential benefit for its use in the treatment of hyperlipidemic-associated ischemic heart disease and arteriosclerosis.
Bronchospasmogenic:
Methanol extract of fresh leaves of SM exerted a bronchospasmogenic rather than a bronchospasmolytic effect, probably through muscarinic receptor stimulation.
Bone Marrow Protection:
Study showed animals treated with both SM extract and Doxorubicin, a potent antitumor drug, developed significantly fewer micronucleus assay and chromosomal aberrations than those treated with DXR alone. SM are rich in flavonoids with antioxidant activities.
Antipyretic / Analgesic :
Study showed the dry residue of fresh juice produced significant antipyretic (dose-dependent) and analgesic effect. The results support its use in traditional medicine.
Analgesic :
Study of hydroalcoholic extract on formalin injection-induced pain showed an analgesic effect not significantly different from that of 4 mg/kg of morphine sulfate
Hypotensive:
Study of SM extract on normotensive rats showed dose-dependent hypotensive responses possibly through its influence on the renin-angiotensive system and SME-induced diuresis. It suggests SME could be a potent hypotensive agent.
Visual Benefits / Glaucoma :
Study showed that Solanum melongena may be of benefit for patients suffering from raised intraocular pressure (glaucoma) and convergence insufficiency.
Phytochemicals / Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition:
Study yielded stigmasterol, stigmasterol-ß-D-gluvoside, dioscin, protodioscin and methyl protodioscin. The that phytosterols 1, 2 and 3 that showed strong inhibition of xantine oxidase.
Antifungal:
Different extracts of S melongena leaf were evaluated against three human pathogenic dermatophytes (Tricophyton mentagrophytes, T rubrum and T tonsurans) and two opportunistic fungi (C albicans T beigelli). Except for the water extract, all extracts showed significant antifungal property.
Birth Control:
Plant and allies yield glucoalkaloids (solasodine) that are under investigation as oral contraceptive for birth control.


Availability
Cultivated for its edible fruit.


Last Update October 2010


Photos © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange
Colored pencil drawing © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Eggplant (Solanum melongena) infusion has a modest and transitory effect on hypercholesterolemic subjects
/ P R Guimaraes et al / Braz J Med Biol Res, September 2000, Volume 33(9) 1027-1036 / doi: 10.1590/S0100-879X2000000900006
(2)
Spasmogenic effect of a Solanum melongena leaf extract on guinea pig tracheal chains and its possible mechanism(s) / D R A Mana et al / doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.07.017 / Journal of Ethnopharmacology Vol 95, Issues 2-3, December 2004, Pages 329-333
(3)
Standardized Solanum melongena Extract Presents Protective Effects against Chromosomal Aberrations Induced by Doxorubicin in Wistar Rat Bone Marrow Cells / CYTOLOGIA Vol. 68 (2003) , No. 2 177-181
(4)
ANTIPYRETIC AND ANALGESIC EFFECT OF LEAVES OF SOLANUM MELONGENA LINN. IN RODENTS / S Mutalik et al /Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2003; 35: 312-315
(5)
Hypotensive action of Solanum melongena on normotensive rats
/ O L Shum and W Chiu / Phytotherapy Research Vol 5 Issue 2, Pages 76 - 8 / DOI 10.1002/ptr.2650050208
(6)
Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors from the Roots of Eggplant (Solanum Melongena L.) / Hsuch-Ching Cghiang and Yen-Yeou Chen / Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry • 1993, Vol. 7, No. 3, Pages 225-235 / DOI: 10.3109/14756369309040765
(7)
Effects of Solanum melongena (garden egg) on some visual functions of visually active Igbos of Nigeria / S A Igwe et al / Journal of Ethnopharmacology • Volume 86, Issues 2-3, June 2003, Pages 135-138 / doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(02)00364-1
(8)
Solanum melongena: A potential source of antifungal agent /
Jayshree Das, Jyoti Prasad Lahan and R. B. Srivastava / INDIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY / DOI: 10.1007/s12088-010-0004-2
(9)
Solanum melongena and Wild Allies: Potential Birth Control Resource / Kumar B, Chaudhary BR / Vegetos- An International Journal of Plant Research, 2006, Vol 19, No 1and2
(10)
Hypolipidaemic Potentials of Solanum melongena and Solanum gilo on Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits / A A Odetola, Y O Iranloye et al / Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 3 (3): 180-187, 2004
(11)
The effect of Solanum melongena L. hydro-alcoholic extract on chronic pain in male mice as compared with morphine / M H Dashti Rahmatabadi, M Anvari et al / Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2009


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