Folk Barahantaa.
Action Root—carminative, expectorant; used for colic, dysuria, coughs and catarrhal affections.
A decoction is prescribed in difficult
parturition.
The fruits and leaves contain glycoalkaloid, solasonine; the presence of solanine in roots, leaves and fruits has been reported. Diosgenin is also present in leaves, stems and fruits.
The total alkaloid content of fruit varies from 0.2 to 1.8% (dry weight basis); plants growing in Jammu and Kashmir bear fruits with high alkaloid content (total alkaloid 1.8%).
An alcoholic extract of fruits is active against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. The extract of leaves is also active against F. coli.
The bigger var. of Kateri (Indian Nightshade) is also equated with S. anguivi Lam., synonym S. indicum auct. non L. It contains salasonine, diosgenin, beta- sitosterol, lanosterol, solamargine, solasodine and tomatidenol. The seed oil contains carpestrol.
Dosage Root—10—20 g for decoction. (API, Vol. II.)
Solanum melongena Linn.
Family Solanaceae.
Habitat Native to India; cultivated throughout India.
English Eggplant, Brinjal.
Ayurvedic Bhantaki, Bhantaa, Vaartaaka, Vaartaaku, Vaartaakini, Vrintaaka.
Unani Baingan.
Siddha/Tamil Kathirikai.
Folk Baingan, Bhantaa.
Solanum nigrum Linn. 613
Action Fruit—recommended in liver complaints and for amenorrhoea. The fruit is reported to stimulate
the intrahepatic metabolism of cholesterol, produces a marked drop in blood cholesterol level.
Aqueous extract of fruit is reported to inhibit choline esterase activity of human plasma. Root—anti- asthmatic. Leaves—toxic; used mostly externally for the treatment of burns, cold sores and abscesses. Seeds—anticholesterolemic.
Steroidal saponins, melongosides were isolated from seeds; tigogenin, diosgenin were also obtained. Quercetin, 3-0-rhamnoside and kaempferol3-0-rutinoside have been isolatedfrom the leaves. The ethanol extract (80%) showed anti-inflammatory activity in paw oedema and cotton pellet method in rats. Crude extract of fruits showed diuresis and dose-dependent hypotensive response in normotensive
