Linn.Solanum aviculare Forst. f.Family: Solanaceae.
Habitat: Introduced to Kashmir for experimental cultivation.
Ayurvedic: Kantakaari (related species).Action: An important source of solasodine, a nitrogen analogue of diosgenin and one of the starting materials for the synthesis of corticosteroids and other steroidal hormones.
See S. xanthocarpum. The leaves, stems, flowers and green fruits contain the glycoalkaloid, solaso- nine, of which solasodine is the agly- cone. Besides solasonine, the plantFamily: Solanaceae.Habitat: The temperate Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim at altitudes of 1,200-2,400 m.
English: Woody Night Shade, Bittersweet, Bitter Nightshade, Felonwort.Ayurvedic: Kaakamaachi-vishesha, Valli-kantakaarikaa.Unani: Mako (red var.).Action: Twigs and root bark— stimulating, expectorant, hepatic, astringent, antirheumatic, alterative, antifungal. Dried branches— sedative and analgesic. Used for chronic bronchitis, chronic eczema and rheumatism.
Key application: As a supportive therapy for chronic eczema. (German Commission E.)The plant is rich in alkaloidal glyco- sides. Alpha-, beta-, gamma-solamari- ne were isolated from the fruits. Toma- tidenol I existed in the plant as alpha- and beta-solamarine. Solasodine was obtained in traces as secondary alkaloid; it existed as solasonine and sola- margine. Aerial parts gave alpha-and beta-soladulcine, the glycoalkaloids. The sterols were present in free form and as esters, glucosides and palmitic esters of glucosides.Beta-solamarine shows significant tumour-inhibiting activity. Steroidal saponins are antifungal; alkaloids are anticholinergic; solasodine exhibit antiphlogistic activity.
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