Solanum nigrum L.
Vernacular name: Black nightshade, Makoy (Hindi: मकोय)
Species Name: Solanum nigrum L.
Family: Solanaceae
Habit: Annual herbaceous plant
Stem: Erect or spreading, branched, green to purplish
Leaf: Alternate, ovate, wavy margins, 2-8 cm long
Flowering: June-September
Flowers: Umbellate cymes; small white star-shaped; 5 fused sepals, 5 petals, 5 stamens yellow anthers forming cone, superior bilocular ovary
Fruit: Small juicy berries; green turning black (ripe edible), dull green (toxic)
Uses:
- Leaves decoction and extracts have anti-inflammatory properties and used to alleviate asthma, cough, dysentery and digestive problems.
- Ripe berries are used in fever remedy and roots have diuretic properties.(caution: unripe toxic solanine)
- In traditional Indian medicines, it is used to treat jaundice and other liver related issues due to its hepatoprotective.
- Plant juice is used for tropical application on psoriasis, ulcers and various skin diseases.
- Young leaves are cooked as greens or added in soups in Africa and Asia while ripe dark pruple or black berries can be eaten raw and use to make jams, pies and as appetite stimulant.
- Known as “Wonderberry“ and poison antidote folklore and Krishna’s eye cosmetic.
- It is disturbed ground weed, cosmopolitan and self-sows prolifically.
- Leaves contain solanine that is toxic glycoalkaloid and can cause serve nausea, diarrhea and cramps.
