Herb's Introduction
Solanum villosum Mill., commonly known as Hairy Nightshade or Red-fruit Nightshade, is a plant belonging to the large and important family Solanaceae. It is a brittle-stemmed herb, generally erect and growing to a height of 40-60 cm, and is often found as a weed distributed throughout tropical and temperate regions across the world, including parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The plant is traditionally significant in various systems of medicine, and parts of it are also utilized as a wild edible vegetable and fruit, particularly the ripe berries and cooked leaves. The genus name Solanum is possibly derived from the Latin "solor," meaning "the one that soothes or comforts," hinting at the plant's medicinal, pain-relieving properties, or from "sol," referring to it as a plant of the sun. It is known to be rich in various phytochemicals such as alkaloids (like solanine), flavonoids, saponins, and terpenoids, which are responsible for its wide range of bioactivities.
Name in Different Countries
English: Hairy Nightshade, Red Nightshade, Woolly Nightshade Sanskrit: कोविदारः (Kovidaraha), रक्तकोविदारः (Raktokovidaraha) Welsh: Codwarth coch German: Gelbfrüchtiger Nachtschatten Dutch: Donsnachtschade Swedish: Gul nattskatta Chinese: 红果龙葵 (Hong guo long kui) Finnish: Myskikoiso French: Morelle ailée, Morelle noire Romanian: zirna galbena
Terminology
Botanical Name: Solanum villosum Mill. Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade family) Synonyms: Solanum miniatum Bernh. ex Willd., Solanum nigrum var. humile (Bernh. ex Willd.) C.Y. Wu & S.C. Huang. This plant is part of the Solanum nigrum complex, a group of closely related species, which often leads to confusion and sometimes overlapping traditional uses and terminology with other nightshades, particularly Solanum nigrum (Black Nightshade/Makoi). Common Terminology: It is generally referred to as a "Nightshade" species, characterized by its reddish/orange/yellow berries, distinguishing it from the black-berried Solanum nigrum.
Availability
Solanum villosum is a globally widespread therophyte (annual plant) found throughout tropical and temperate regions, including parts of India, China, Kenya, Pakistan, and various locations in Europe and the Mediterranean. As a species often growing as a weed, its availability is generally widespread in disturbed or cultivated areas. Availability in the context of "Medicinal Plants of Nepal": While specific reports for Solanum villosum Mill. in Nepal are less frequent than its close relative Solanum nigrum L. (Black Nightshade or Makoi/Kakamachi), the latter is well-documented as a medicinal plant in the country, particularly in the Terai region and Kathmandu Valley, where it is used as a diuretic, tonic, and to cure liver ailments. Given the plant's wide distribution and its classification within the S. nigrum complex, it is highly likely that S. villosum or similar species are present and utilized in the diverse ecological zones of Nepal, particularly in the lower-lying regions where related nightshades thrive. Traditional knowledge in Nepal often relies on local variants of common medicinal herbs.
External Look
Habit: Erect, branched herb, typically growing 40–60 cm tall. Stem: Pubescent (covered in soft hairs), sometimes glandular, often angular. Leaves: Ovate to elliptic, 3-7 × 2-4 cm, sparsely pubescent, with a cuneate (wedge-shaped) and decurrent (running down the petiole) base. The margins can be entire, sinuate, or coarsely toothed (dentate). Flowers: Extra-axillary (growing outside the leaf axil), clustered in umbellate inflorescences. The corolla is white or purplish, sometimes drying yellowish, with lobes that are strongly spreading and reflexed. Fruit (Berry): The most distinctive feature. The berries are globose (spherical), 6-8 mm in diameter, and ripen to a bright red, orange, or yellow color. Seeds: Discoid (disc-shaped), about 1 mm in diameter. Pubescence: The presence of simple, sometimes glandular hairs on the stem and leaves gives it the name "hairy nightshade."
Healing Properties
Solanum villosum possesses a wide array of documented phytochemicals and traditional uses, attributing to several significant healing properties: Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic: Traditionally used to reduce swelling and pain. Compounds are present that can soothe discomfort and ease inflammation, often applied as a poultice or paste on affected areas like sore joints. Anticancer/Antitumor: Extracts, particularly those containing glycoalkaloids and other compounds, have shown potential cytotoxic activity, suggesting possible benefits in the management of certain cancers (similar to its relative S. nigrum). Antimicrobial and Antiseptic: Possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it useful for treating wounds, sores, abscesses, and skin infections like ringworm and eczema. Hepatoprotective and Diuretic: Traditional systems (like Ayurveda, often referencing the S. nigrum complex) use the herb as a tonic and diuretic, beneficial for liver ailments, kidney function, and promoting the discharge of urine (useful in conditions like dropsy). Antioxidant: Rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which contribute to a high antioxidant capacity, helping to scavenge free radicals and support overall cellular health and immunity. Emollient and Antidysentric: Used traditionally for its soothing properties (emollient) and for treating dysentery and other gastrointestinal disorders.
Advantages
The key advantages of Solanum villosum as a medicinal herb and nutraceutical include: Multifaceted Therapeutic Potential: It offers a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities (anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant) in a single plant. Nutritional Value: The plant is valued as a wild edible leafy vegetable and the ripe berries are eaten in some cultures, providing essential nutritional constituents like carbohydrates, proteins, crude fiber, and micronutrients, thereby helping to boost immunity and overcome deficiencies. Traditional Validation: It has a long history of traditional use in treating common ailments like skin disorders, wounds, fevers, and gastrointestinal issues across different continents. Source of Bioactive Compounds: It is a rich source of diverse secondary metabolites, including medicinally important glycoalkaloids, which serve as precursors for industrial steroid production and possess defensive allelochemical properties.
Uses
Solanum villosum is used both externally and internally for various conditions: Traditional Medicine (General): Used for leucorrhoea, nappy rash, wounds, cold sores, sore throat, toothache, fever, urethritis, and disorders of the neuro-vegetative system. Skin Ailments (External): Paste or extract is applied to the skin to treat inflammation, burns, ulcers, eczema, ringworm, carbuncles, and furuncles due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action. Internal Disorders: Used as a tonic, sedative, laxative, and for ailments such as dysentery, enlargement of the liver and spleen, and urinary tract infections. It is also used in some regions for stomach disorders and abdominal pains (ripe fruits). Veterinary Medicine (Traditional): In some traditional practices, the crushed fruit is given to chickens for mouth and nose diseases. Food/Nutraceutical: The ripe berries and cooked leaves are consumed as food or a dietary supplement to enhance nutrition.
Using Way
The method of using Solanum villosum depends heavily on the condition being treated and traditional practices. Caution is paramount, as the plant (especially unripe parts) contains toxic glycoalkaloids (like solanine), and dosage must be strictly adhered to and guided by an expert. For External Skin Ailments: Bruised or crushed fresh leaves, or a paste made from the plant extract, are applied directly to the affected skin area (e.g., sores, ulcers, inflamed parts, eczema). For Internal Consumption (Food): Ripe berries are consumed in some regions. Leaves are typically boiled or cooked (often in soups or stews) before consumption to potentially reduce the alkaloid content, making them safer for use as a vegetable. As a Decoction/Infusion (Medicine): The leaves, stems, or whole plant (often dried) can be decocted (boiled in water) for internal use as a tonic, diuretic, or to treat conditions like fever, respiratory issues, or stomach disorders. Traditional Remedies: In specific local remedies, fruits might be prepared into a 'paste' for stomach issues, or the entire plant may be used for blood purification. Modern Formulations: Extracts are used in scientific studies and could be processed into capsules or standardized extracts for modern medicinal applications, often in combination with other herbs (e.g., in traditional Chinese medicine cancer formulas related to the S. nigrum complex).
Conclusion
Solanum villosum Mill., the Hairy Nightshade, is a globally distributed herb with a rich history of ethnobotanical and medicinal use, largely due to its potent concentration of bioactive phytochemicals, particularly glycoalkaloids. It is highly valued for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and potential anticancer activities. While it serves as a valuable traditional remedy for a spectrum of ailments, from skin diseases and wounds to internal disorders and as a nutritional supplement, its use requires careful knowledge due to the presence of potentially toxic compounds (solanine) in its unripe parts. As part of the Solanum nigrum complex, its benefits are often intertwined with those of its black-berried relative, which is also a recognized medicinal plant in Nepal. Further research into its standardized dosage and safety profile is essential to fully harness its potential as a safe and effective nutraceutical and pharmaceutical agent.
