MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIKKIM

 

 

Basic Information

 

 

Species                                   : Solanum myricanthum Dunal

Local Name                            :

Synonym                                : Solanum viarun Dunal

Family                                     : Solanaceae

Habitat                                   : A stout, much branched under-shrub.

Distribution                            : Distributed to temperate and tropical region

Sikkim                                     : Gangtok, Rhenock, Saramsha, Tathanchen, Helipad, Busuk, Kabi, Dikchu-bay, Tashiding-Yuksum, Ranipool, Pakyong,

                                                Chungthang, Shipgyer, Kitam, Jorthang, Dentam.

Out side                                  : West Bengal (Latpanjar, Surut, Gorubathan, Bagrakot, Teesta), Khasi, Jaintia and Naga hills of Assam, Manipur, West

                                                Bengal, Orissa the upper Gangetic plains and the Nilgiris (Tropical India), Tropical America, and China.

Morphological information

A stout, much branched under shrub up to 1.5 m tall with almost straight prickles. Leaves ovate, lobed, lobes lanceolate or triangular, hirsute and prickly on both surfaces. Flower white in lateral 1-4 flowered racemes; berries yellowish or greenish, globose, 2.5 cm diameter. Seeds smooth, brown, compressed.

Flowering        :

Fruiting           :

History           :

Parts              : Whole plant.

Status             : Low risk.

Phytochemistry

Hydrolytic studies on glucosides showed that hydrochloric add produced appreciable amount of solasodiene whereas sulphuric acid produced only very small amount; solasodine isolated from fruits; solasonine, solamargine and khasianine isolated from berries; solasodine content in leaves and fruits of Pakistani plants; aculeatiside A (0.1) and aculeatiside B (3.0%) isolated from roots and their structures determined.

 

Medicinal

Alcoholic extract of the plant affect the contraction of isolated ileum of guinea pig and also influence central nervous system. It cures toothache.

Traditional

 The fumes from the burnt fruit is led to get inside the mouth to eradicate the bacterial infection and sometime powdered seed is also smoked as cigar (Project Report-2001, Lepcha System).

 

Reference

 

 1. Anonymous (1961). The Wealth of India (Vol. 3). Publications and Information Directorate, CSIR. New Delhi. 382-383.

2. Anonymous (1992) The Useful Plants of India. Publications and information Directorate, CSIR New Delhi. 580.

3. Progress Report of the Project "Studies on Medicinal Plants of Sikkim" (1998-2001). State Council of Science and Technology for Sikkim.