Herb's Introduction
Solanum nigrum L., commonly known as Black Nightshade, is a widespread, highly variable annual or sometimes biennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, which also includes the potato, tomato, and eggplant. It is native to Eurasia but is now widely distributed across temperate to tropical regions globally, growing as a common weed in disturbed areas, cultivated fields, roadsides, and wastelands. Despite its designation as a weed in many parts of the world, especially in Europe and North America, it is a significant leafy vegetable and traditional medicinal herb in many Asian and African countries. The plant is traditionally utilized to treat a vast array of ailments due to its rich composition of bioactive constituents, including steroidal saponins, alkaloids, phenols, and polysaccharides. However, it is important to note that the plant contains toxic glycoalkaloids, such as solanine, and toxicity can vary significantly based on location, variety, and the ripeness of the berries, with unripe (green) berries having the highest concentration of toxins. Edible strains, particularly those used for cooked leaves, are generally considered safe when properly prepared.
Name in Different Countries
The widespread nature of Solanum nigrum has led to an extensive list of common names across the globe, reflecting its use as both a food and medicine: English: Black Nightshade, Common Nightshade, Poisonberry, Wonderberry. Sanskrit: Kakamachi (काक माची). Hindi: Mokoi (मोकोय), Makoi, Gurkamai. Tamil: Manatakkali (மணதக்காளி), Munatakali, Manathakkali. Telugu: Kamanchi (కామంచి), Kachi, Kasaka. Manipuri: Leipungkhangga (লৈপুঙখাংগ). Arabic: بندوره (Bandura), مسلحه (Musallahah), رمرام (Ramram). Chinese (Mandarin): Long Kui (龙葵). Nepali: Thulo Bihun (ठूलो बिहुँ), as referenced in traditional plant lists. Bengali: Kakmachi, Tulidun. Malayalam: Manatakkali. Swahili (East Africa): Mnavu. French: Morelle noire (Black Morel). German: Schwarze Nachtschatten. This diverse nomenclature underscores its cultural significance in different regions.
Terminology
Botanical Name: Solanum nigrum L. Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade family). Accepted Synonyms (Example): Solanum americanum Mill. is an accepted name for a complex of closely related plants, often grouped under the common name "Black Nightshade." Ayurvedic Terminology: Kakamachi is classified as a 'Rasayani' (anti-aging/rejuvenating) and is used to treat conditions such as Sotha (inflammation/edema), Arsha (hemorrhoids), Jvara (fever), Kushta (skin diseases), and Netraroga (eye ailments). Key Chemical Constituents: Steroidal glycoalkaloids (e.g., solanine, solamargine, solasonine), steroidal saponins, phenols, and polysaccharides are major groups of bioactive compounds.
Availability
Solanum nigrum is remarkably ubiquitous. It thrives in disturbed and agricultural lands, from temperate to tropical climates, and is found from sea level up to altitudes of over 3,500 meters. Geographical Distribution: Widely spread across Europe, Asia (including Nepal, India, China, Southeast Asia), Africa, and the Americas. Habitat: It grows spontaneously as a weed in cultivated fields, gardens, and wastelands globally. Cultivation: While often harvested from the wild, it is semi-cultivated in some regions like Africa and Indonesia for its edible leaves and fruits, often in home gardens. The cultivated forms are sometimes selected for lower toxicity. In Nepal, it is found in many regions, often considered a wild edible and medicinal plant.
External Look
Habit: An erect, much-branched annual or short-lived perennial herb, typically growing to a height of about 20 cm to 1 meter. Leaves: Simple, alternate, stalked, ovate to triangular-ovate, often with wavy or toothed margins, sometimes nearly entire. The leaves can be consumed as a vegetable (spinach-like) after cooking, particularly in edible strains. Flowers: Small, white, or occasionally purplish, star-shaped, five-lobed, clustered in small, drooping umbrella-like groups (umbels or cymes) that arise from the side of the stem. Fruit (Berries): Small, round berries, which are initially green and highly toxic. They ripen to a shiny black or dark purple, and in edible varieties, the ripe black berries are eaten and described as sweet and salty. The berries are the most toxic part when green.
Healing Properties
Traditional systems of medicine and modern research attribute a range of healing properties to different parts of the plant: Anti-inflammatory: Used traditionally for reducing inflammatory swellings, joint inflammation (gout, rheumatism), and inflamed parts of the body. Hepatoprotective: Highly valued in traditional medicine for treating liver disorders, including enlargement of the liver and spleen (hepatomegaly/splenomegaly) and cirrhosis of the liver. Antitumor/Anticancer: Crude extracts and isolated components, such as certain glycoalkaloids and polysaccharides, have shown antiproliferative activity against various cancer cell lines (e.g., cervical cancer, breast cancer). Antipyretic and Antidiarrhoeal: The berries and cold infusion of the plant are traditionally used to treat fever (Jvara) and diarrhea. Antiseptic and Wound Healing: Used externally as a poultice or wash for wounds, mouth sores, skin diseases, and boils. Diuretic and Laxative: Extracts and decoctions are used to expel excess fluids (diuretic, useful in cardiac edema, dropsy) and as a mild laxative.
Advantages
Broad Spectrum of Traditional Use: Used globally for diverse ailments, from chronic conditions like liver diseases and skin disorders (eczema, psoriasis) to acute issues like fever, inflammation, and digestive problems. Nutritional Value: The young leaves and shoots, especially from edible strains, are consumed as a vegetable (like spinach or sag in South Asia) and are a good source of nutrients, particularly when thoroughly boiled. Potential for Modern Medicine: The identified bioactive compounds, especially steroidal glycoalkaloids, are the subject of extensive modern research for their potential as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective agents. Accessibility: Being a widespread weed, it is easily available and accessible to rural and traditional communities for use as a primary source of medicine and food.
Uses
Internal Medicinal Uses: Liver & Spleen: Decoctions or fresh extract for enlargement of the liver and spleen, and for jaundice. Inflammation & Pain: Used internally and externally for general inflammation, gout, and rheumatism. Skin Diseases: Used for chronic skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and leucoderma. Respiratory: Berries, flowers, and leaf preparations prescribed for cough, cold, asthma, and bronchitis. Digestive: Used for chronic dysentery, diarrhea, and piles (hemorrhoids). External/Topical Uses: Poultice: Paste of leaves or whole plant applied to swollen testicles, rheumatic joints, skin diseases, and to ease pain from teething. Wash/Fomentation: Decoction used for sore eyes, mouth sores, and to clean wounds. Food Uses: Vegetable: Young leaves and shoots are boiled and eaten as a leafy vegetable (sag or spinach-like) in Africa and Asia. Fruit: Ripe black berries of non-toxic or low-toxicity strains are edible and used to make jams, or eaten fresh. Other Uses: Used as an agricultural insecticide and in some magico-religious beliefs.
Using Way
Crucial Note on Toxicity: Due to the presence of toxic glycoalkaloids (highest in green, unripe berries and variable in leaves), only ripe, black berries of known edible strains should be consumed raw, and leaves should be thoroughly cooked (boiling and discarding the water multiple times is often recommended for safety, especially if the strain's toxicity is unknown). Decoction/Infusion: For internal ailments like liver trouble, fever, or as a diuretic, 30–40 mL of a decoction (boiled leaves and/or fruit) is typically consumed. A specific method involves boiling about 125 g of fresh leaves in 750–1000 mL of water for 10–15 minutes until 250 mL remains, then filtering. Half a cup (125 mL) of this decoction is applied 3–4 times daily for mouth sores. Paste/Poultice: Fresh leaves or whole plant pounded into a paste is applied topically to rheumatic swellings, gouty joints, skin lesions (ringworm, eczema), or applied to clean wounds and treat inflammation. Juice (Fresh Extract): Fresh juice of the leaf and fruits, in doses of 10–15 mL, is sometimes given for cough and asthma, or as an antidote to opium poisoning/rat bites in traditional practices (use with extreme caution). The fresh juice is also warmed and used as eardrops for earache. Cooked Vegetable: Young leaves are boiled with the water discarded and then fried or cooked with other ingredients like onion and cumin, consumed as a vegetable (spinach substitute) for nutritional and mild medicinal benefits, such as treating cough.
Conclusion
Solanum nigrum L., or Black Nightshade (known as Kakamachi in Ayurveda and Mokoi/Manatakkali in parts of India), is a globally distributed herb with profound significance in traditional and folk medicine, including in regions of Nepal. It is highly valued for its hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and potential antitumor activities, supported by its rich phytochemistry of steroidal compounds. Used topically for skin diseases and internal inflammation, and internally for liver disorders, fevers, and respiratory issues, its broad therapeutic profile makes it a key medicinal resource. However, its variable toxicity, stemming from glycoalkaloids concentrated in the unripe berries, necessitates cautious use. Consumption of leaves requires thorough cooking to minimize risk, and ripe berries should only be eaten if they are from a known edible strain. As a widespread and accessible plant, Solanum nigrum continues to be an important subject for scientific validation to safely integrate its traditional uses into modern healthcare.
