 Botany
Hairy and spiny
shrub, growing to a height of 1.5 meters. Leaves are ovate, dark green
with 2-3 serrate lobes. Flowers are violet. Fruit is orange, globose,
up to 3 cm and many-seeded.
Distribution
Native to the
Mediterranean. Cultivated in Baguio and Manila gardens. Propagated by
seeds.
Properties
and constituents
Fruit is deemed
poisonous.
A water soluble extract consists of 60-90% solamargine and solasonine,
being studied as components in pharmaceutical compostions for inhibiting
tumor growth in liver, breast and lung cancer. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7078063.html
Uses
Not known folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
Ongoing studies in other countries.
Used for cystitis, dermatitis, ringworn, pleurisy, sorethroat, toothaches
and infertility.
In the Congo, used for
hypertension.
In the Easter Cape, South Africa,
poultice of fruit and leaves in oil or fat applied to skin rashes.
In Paraguay, used for its diuretic and antihypertensive properties.
Caution
!
Livestock /
Pasture Nightshades:Since 1900s, reports of chronic
and crippling arthritis in livestock in Brazil, USA, Australia and other
places, associated with arteriosclerosis, hypercalcemic, osteopetrosis
and early death have identified the culprits as belonging
to the Solanacea family (Nightshade family), including S malacoxylon
and S sodomeum,
C diurnum and N veitchii. Solanaceae which contain cholinesterase inhibiting
glycoalkaloids and steroids and its vitamin D3 metabolite and other
unknown factors and deficiencies – may cumulatively cause the
disabling arthrtic condition.
Studies
• Hypotensive / Cardiovascular Effects: Extract from the plant has been reported to exert hypotensive effects in rats. Nuatigenosido, isolated as one of the prospective active compounds, was shown to lower blood pressure and augment the contractile force in the right atrium.
Availability
Cultivated. |
