skin ailments, vomiting, ulcers and poisonous affections. In Ayurveda the formulations like
Brihatyadi Kashaya, dashamoolarishta, Indukantaghritam, Dasamoolaharithaki, etc are the
important preparations with the roots. It is also used in the treatment of toothache and sore
throat. The fruit is reported to stimulate the intrahepatic metabolism of cholesterol. Roots are
antiasthmatic and stimulant. Leaves are used in cholera, bronchitis and asthma. Fruits are
useful in liver complaints.
6. S. nigrum Linn. syn. S. rubrum Mill.
Eng: Black night shade; San: Kakamachi; Hin: Makoy, Gurkkamai; Mal: Karimthakkali;
Tam: Manathakkali, Milagutakkali; Kan: Kakarndi; Tel: Kamachi, Kachi
It is seen wild throughout India. It is an erect, divaricately branched, unarmed,
suffrutescent annual herb. Leaves are ovate or oblong, sinuate-toothed or lobed and glabrous.
Flowers are 3-8 in extra-axillary drooping subumbellate cymes. Fruits are purplish black or
reddish berries. Seeds are many, discoid, yellow, minutely pitted. The whole plant is useful
in vitiated conditions of tridosha, rheumatalgia, swellings, cough, asthma, bronchitis,
wounds, ulcers, flatulence, dyspepsia, strangury, hepatomegaly, otalgia, hiccough,
opthalmopathy, vomiting, cardiopathy, leprosy, skin diseases, fever, splenomegaly,
haemarrhoids, nephropathy, dropsy and general debility. The plant is bitter, acrid, emollient,
antiseptic, antiinflammatory, expectorant, anodyne, vulnerary, digestive, laxative, diuretic,
cardiotonic, depurative, diaphoretic, febrifuge, rejuvenating, sedative, alterant and tonic.
7. S. spirale Roxb.
Hin: Munguskajur
It is seen wild in Assam and Khasi hills in India. Its root is diuretic and narcotic.
8. S. stramoniifolium Jacq., syn. S. ferox auct. non Linn.
San: Garbhada; Hin: Rambaigan; Mal: Anachunda; Tam: Anaichundai; Tel: Mulaka
It is observed in India in the states of Assam, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil
Nadu. Its berries contain glycoalkaloids such as solasonine and solasodine. Its roots and
berries are bechic, antiasthmatic, antirheumatic, antiviral, anticancerous and spermicidal.
9. S. surattense Burm. F. syn. S. xanthocarpum schrad. & Wendl., S.
jacquinii Willd.
Eng: Yellow-berried nightshade; San: Kantakari, Nidigdhika; Hin: Remgani,Kateli;
Mal: Kantakarichunda; Tam: Kantankattiri; Kan: Nelagulli; Tel: Callamulaga
It is found throughout India and Pakistan in dry situations as weed on roadsides and
wastelands. It is prickly, diffuse, bright green, suffrutescent, perennial undershrub, with
zigzag branches. Leaves are ovate-oblong, hairy on both sides and armed on the midrib and
the nerves. Flowers are bluish purple, in extra-axillary cymes. Fruits are glabrous, globular
drooping berry, yellow or white with green veins, surrounded by the calyx. Seeds are many,
small, reniform, smooth and yellowish brown.
The whole plant is useful in vitiated conditions of vata and kapha, helminthiasis,
dental caries, inflammations, flatulence, constipation, dyspepsia, anorexia, leprosy, skin
diseases, hypertension, fever, cough, asthma, bronchitis, hiccough, lumbago, haemorrhoids
and epilepsy. The plant is bitter, acrid, thermogenic, anthelmintic, antiinflammatory, anodyne,
digestive, carminative, appetiser, stomachic, depurative, sudorific, febrifuge, expectorant,
laxative, stimulant, diuretic, rejuvenating, emmenagogue and aphrodisac. Fruits contain
solasonine, solamargine and solasodine.
10. S. torvum Sw.
Eng: West Indian Turkey Berry; Hin, Ben: Titbaigan; Mal: Kattuchunda; Kan: Kadu Sunde;
Tam: Sundaikai, Amarakai; Tel: Kundavustic, Kotuvestu; Ass: Hathibhekuri
It is seen throughout tropical India, particularly in Orissa, Bihar and Manipur. The
plant is CVS active and used in splenomegaly. Fruits and leaves contain solasonine,
solasodine, jurubine, jurubidine, torvonin, torvogenin, chlorogenin, paniculogenin,
sisalogenone, neosolaspigenin and solaspigenin.