Morphological information

A variable annual, stem erect, glabrous or more or less pubescent, much divaricately branched. Leaves numerous ovate or oblong, sinuate-toothed or lobed, narrowed at both ends. Flowers small white, in drooping umbel like 3-8 flowered clusters. Berries red, yellow or black round. Seeds discoid, smooth, yellow, minutely pitted.

Flowering             : February-October

Fruiting                : April-December

History                 :

Parts                    : Whole plant, leaves and berries.

Status                  : Low risk

Phytochemistry

Tiogenin isolated from roots and stems; fatty oil isolated from seeds contained palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic and acids along with linoleic add (72%) predominating; luttronin A, uttrosides A and B isolated from stem and roots and their structures determined; α-carotene isolated from fruits; five steroidal glycosides- SN-O, SN-1, SN-2, SN-3 and SN-4- isolated from immature berries; first four characterized as 26-O (β-D- glucopyranosyl)-22 methoxy-25D-5α-furost-3β, 26 diol-3- 0- β-lycotetraoside, desgalactotigonin, solamargine and solasonine respectively; uttronin B, mp. 218 degree, isolated from roots and stems and its structure determined; determination of solasodine content in leaves and fruits of plant grown in Pakistan.

Ayurvedic

The berries are used in disease of the heart and the eyes, in pains, piles, inflammation, "Tridosh". leucoderma, itch, worms In the ear, dysentery, cough, vomiting, asthma, bronchitis, fever, urinary discharges; improve the voice, favour conception and facilitate delivery; useful in erysipelas and rat-bite.

 

Unani

 The root bark is used in the disease of ear, eye and nose, good for ulcers on the neck, burning of the throat, inflammation of the liver, chronic fever, griping. The leaves are used for headache and diseases of the nose. The fruit is useful in thirst due to fever and in inflammation. The seeds are used in giddiness, gonorrhoea, thirst and inflammation.

Traditional

An infusion of the plant is used as an enema in infants having abdominal upsets. The plant is also credited with emollient, diuretic and laxative properties and its decoction is regarded as an antispasmodic and narcotic. Freshly prepared extract of the plant is effective in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver and also serves as an antidote to opium poisoning. Infusion or decoction of the plant after transient stimulation, depress the central nervous system and the reflexes of the spinal cord. Small dose increases and large doses decreases, cardiac activity; reduction in blood pressure. Extraction of the plant affects the rate and amplitude of respiration. The juice of fresh leaves is reported to produce dilation of the pupil.

 

 

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Reference