Herb's Introduction
Solanum torvum Sw., commonly known as the Turkey Berry or Devil’s Fig, is a perennial, erect, and widely branched shrub belonging to the economically important Solanaceae family. Native primarily to the tropical regions of the Americas, this hardy plant has successfully naturalized across the tropical and subtropical belts of the world, including Africa and Asia. It holds a dual identity: in many cuisines, particularly in South India (as Sundakkai) and Southeast Asia (as มะเขือพวง in Thailand), its immature, pea-sized fruits are consumed as a vegetable, valued for their slightly bitter and distinctive flavor. Simultaneously, nearly all parts of the plant—the fruits, leaves, and roots—have been integral to folk medicine for centuries, earning it names like Brihati in Ayurvedic tradition, signifying its importance as a major medicinal herb. Its use in traditional healing systems worldwide, from the Caribbean to the Indian subcontinent, underscores its profound ethnobotanical value.
Name in Different Countries
Solanum torvum possesses an extensive list of regional and international names, highlighting its global distribution and cultural significance. Language / Region Name Sanskrit (Ayurveda) ब्रह्टी (Brihati) Common English Turkey Berry, Susumber, Pea Eggplant, Devil's Fig Tamil சுண்டைக்காய் (Sundaikkai) Thai มะเขือพวง (Ma-kheu-phuang) Japanese 雀茄子 (Suzume Nasu) German Pokastrauch, Teufels-Nachtschatten French Aubergine Sauvage, Fausse Aubergine Danish Ærtenatskygge Nepali सेतो विही (Seto Bihi), ठुलो विहीं (Thulo Bihin), कचेर (Kacher) Hindi Bhurat, Bhankatiya Bengali Tita bagoon Malayalam ആനച്ചുണ്ട (Anachunda) Export to Sheets
Terminology
The plant's classification and nomenclature are defined as follows: Scientific Name: Solanum torvum Sw. Family: Solanaceae (The Nightshade Family), which also includes potato, tomato, and eggplant. Genus: Solanum, one of the largest genera in the flowering plant kingdom. Etymology: The species name torvum is derived from Latin, meaning "harsh," "fierce," or "sharp," likely referring to its stout prickles or the sharp, bitter taste of its fruit. Traditional Terminology: In traditional Indian medicine, the plant is famously referred to by its Sanskrit name, Brihati, acknowledging it as a crucial component in formulations used for digestive and respiratory health. The term "Turkey Berry" or "Pea Eggplant" is descriptive, referring to the small, round, clustered fruits.
Availability
Solanum torvum is globally distributed, flourishing predominantly in moist tropical and subtropical environments. Native Range: The species is native to a broad region spanning from Mexico and Central America south through the Caribbean and northern South America, including Brazil. Global Distribution: It has been introduced and is now widely naturalized across vast regions of Asia (India, Nepal, China, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia), Africa, and the Pacific Islands. It often thrives as a wild, sun-loving pioneer species. Habitat: It is a plant of disturbed habitats, commonly found in woodland clearings, thickets, waste places, roadsides, river banks, and brushy pastures. Availability in Nepal: The plant is reported to be naturalized on open, moist ground in Nepal, particularly at elevations up to 1,000 meters, making it locally available for ethno-medicinal use in various districts.
External Look
Solanum torvum is a robust, semi-woody shrub distinguished by its prickly, hairy structure and clustered berries. Height and Habit: It typically grows as a shrub, reaching 2 to 3 meters in height, though it can sometimes reach 5 meters. It is evergreen and usually has a single, branching stem at the base. Stem and Prickles: The stem and branches are densely covered with stellate (star-shaped) hairs, especially when young. The plant is armed with scattered, slightly recurved, and stout prickles, which may be reddish or pale-yellow. Leaves: The leaves are large (7–14 cm long), ovate, and often coarsely 2-3-sinulate or lobed. They are stellately pubescent on both sides, with a denser covering on the lower surface, and may also have scattered prickles along the midrib and petiole. Flowers: The inflorescences are supra-axillary, many-flowered corymbose cymes. The flowers are small, white, and star-shaped, measuring about 2.5 cm across. Fruit: The fruit is a small, globular berry, 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter, borne in clusters. It is pale green when immature and edible, turning yellow, then dull orange or brown when fully ripe. The berries contain numerous flat, discoid, brown seeds.
Healing Properties
The therapeutic efficacy of Solanum torvum stems from its rich phytochemical profile, which includes steroidal alkaloids (like solasodine), saponins, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. Key scientifically supported and traditional healing properties include: Antihypertensive and Cardiovascular: Aqueous and methanolic extracts have been shown to significantly reduce arterial blood pressure. The plant exhibits cardiovascular protective effects and anti-platelet aggregation activities, aiding in the management of hypertension. Antidiabetic: Phytochemicals, particularly methyl caffeate found in the fruit, have demonstrated an antidiabetic effect by helping to regulate blood glucose levels and potentially stimulating insulin secretion. Antimicrobial and Anti-inflammatory: The plant possesses strong antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful in treating various infections and alleviating pain. Digestive and Diuretic: Traditionally recognized as a digestive aid and a sedative. It acts as a diuretic, promoting urine flow, and is used to treat ailments like cystitis and dropsy. Nutritional Support: The fruit is an exceptional source of essential nutrients, including Iron, Calcium, Fibre, and Vitamins A, B-complex, and C, which is why it is traditionally used as a tonic to combat conditions like anemia.
Advantages
Solanum torvum offers several distinct advantages beyond its medicinal properties, enhancing its value to human health and agriculture: High Nutritional Value: The fruits are an invaluable source of iron, making the plant a natural blood booster used in folk medicine, particularly in Ghana and Jamaica, for managing anemia, especially in pregnant women. Its high fibre content also aids digestion. Versatile Food Source: It is one of the few medicinal plants whose fruits and young shoots are widely and safely consumed as a staple vegetable, allowing for the integration of medicine and diet. Agricultural Utility: It is frequently used horticulturally as a vigorous rootstock for grafting eggplant (Solanum melongena). Grafting onto S. torvum rootstock imparts disease resistance to the eggplant, especially against root diseases, allowing for extended crop longevity. Broad Traditional Application: Its known efficacy in treating a wide spectrum of ailments—from minor cuts and wounds to chronic issues like hypertension, diabetes, and rheumatism—makes it a highly valued and accessible remedy in rural communities across the tropics.
Uses
Different parts of the Solanum torvum plant are utilized for specific therapeutic purposes in various traditional medicine systems, including those of Nepal: Plant Part Ailments Treated / Uses Geographical Context Fruits Enlarged liver and spleen, cough, malaria, intestinal worms, fevers, headaches. India, Philippines, Ghana, Nepal Leaves Colds and flu, fever, to improve appetite, diuretic action, haemostatic (stops bleeding), cuts, wounds, skin diseases, thrush. Jamaica, Haiti, Yucatan, Africa Roots Cystitis (bladder infection), urethritis, gonorrhea, poisoning, poultice for cracks in feet, toothache, vomiting due to weakness. Cuba, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Nepal Whole Plant/Juice Asthma, chronic cough, chest ailments, dropsy, rheumatism, general tonic. Nepal, Caribbean Flowers Juice is dropped into the eyes with salt water for treatment. Nepal (Ethnomedicine) Export to Sheets
Using way
The methods of preparation typically involve water extraction or direct topical application, demonstrating the simplicity of traditional usage: Decoction (Boiling): This is the most common way. The roots are boiled in water to create a decoction, often consumed orally (2–3 times a day) for internal issues like cystitis, urethritis, and gonorrhea. Fruit decoctions are specifically given for cough ailments. Juice Extraction (Raw): Fresh plant parts are crushed to extract the juice. Cubans apply the leaf juice directly to pimples. Nepalese ethnomedicine utilizes the plant juice orally for conditions like asthma and rheumatism. A specific Nepali application involves dropping flower juice mixed with salt water into the eyes. Poultice or Paste (Topical): Crushing the plant parts and applying them directly is used for external remedies. A paste of S. torvum roots is traditionally used in Malaysia and India to soothe cracked feet. In Nepal, ripe fruits are pounded and applied as a poultice onto the forehead to relieve headaches. Culinary Use: Immature green fruits are often eaten raw, cooked, or dried and used as a staple vegetable in curries, stews, and soups, especially in South Asia and the Caribbean, ensuring nutritional intake alongside medicinal benefits.
Conclusion
Solanum torvum, known as Brihati in the Ayurvedic system and locally as Seto Bihi in Nepal, stands as a premier example of a global medicinal plant whose therapeutic potential is now being increasingly validated by pharmacological research. From its wide-ranging distribution across the world's tropics and subtropics—including its naturalized presence in Nepal—to its confirmed properties as an antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and potent antimicrobial agent, it is a profoundly important resource. Its robust nutritional content, particularly its high iron levels, further solidifies its role in combating common health issues like anemia. While utilizing its traditional preparations, one must be mindful of the presence of steroidal alkaloids (solasodine), which, while pharmacologically active, necessitate careful and judicious use, as is common with plants in the Solanaceae family. Continued research and sustainable harvesting practices are crucial to fully harness the therapeutic and nutritional promise of this prickly berry for future generations.
