Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Key application ◮ As a supportive
therapy for chronic eczema.
(German Commission E.)
The plant is rich in alkaloidal glycosides.
Alpha-, beta-, gamma-solamarine
were isolated from the fruits. Tomatidenol
I existed in the plant as alphaand
beta-solamarine. Solasodine was
obtained in traces as secondary alkaloid;
it existed as solasonine and solamargine.
Aerial parts gave alpha-and
beta-soladulcine, the glycoalkaloids.
The sterols were present in free form
and as esters, glucosides and palmitic
esters of glucosides.
Beta-solamarine shows significant
tumour-inhibiting activity. Steroidal
saponins are antifungal; alkaloids are
anticholinergic; solasodine exhibit antiphlogistic
activity.
Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.
Family ◮ Solanaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to tropical America;
naturalized in India as a weed (met
with in cultivated fields and gardens
in Coimbatore).
English ◮ White Horse-Nettle.
Action ◮ Plant—used as a poultice
for sores and ulcers. The plant
is a rich source of the steroidal
alkaloid, solasodine. The fruit and
leaves contain 3–4% (solasodine
3.2%) and 0.18% total alkaloids.
Fruits also contain 0.55% diosgenin.
A related species S. khasianum (Assam,
Sikkim, West Bengal, Orissa and
the Nilgiris, ascending to an altitude of
Solanum ferox Linn. 611
1,600 m) is also a good source of solasodine.
The fruits collected from Nilgiris
contain 5.4% solasodine on dry weight
basis.
Solanum erianthum D. Don.
Synonym ◮ S. verbascifolium auct.
non Linn.
Family ◮ Solanaceae.
Habitat ◮ The tropical and subtropical
India and the Andamans.
Cultivated in South India. (for
berries).
Folk ◮ Chundai (Tami Nadu,
Kerala); Rasagadimaanu (Andhra
Pradesh); Sowdangigida, Kadusinde
(Karnataka); Kutri (Maharashtra).
Vidaari is a confusing synonym
(used by The Wealth of India).
(Vidaari is equated with Pureraria
tuberosa.)
Action ◮ Roots—a decoction is
prescribed for vertigo. Leaves—
prescribed for vaginal discharges.
Various plant parts are ground
with warm water and applied
externally to lessen inflammation,
burning sensation and pain. The
glycoalkaloid, solasonine is present
in the leaves and fruits.
Solanum ferox Linn.
Family ◮ Solanaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout warmer parts
of India, up to an elevation of
1,500 m.
English ◮ Poison-Berry.
S