Solanum nigrum L.
Solanaceae
- .
- Black Nightshade
- Common Nightshade
- Purple Nightshade
- `inab el-deb عنب الذيب
- `inab el-tha'lab عنب الثعلب
- bandoret el-hayya بندورة الحية
- samweh سموة
- סוֹלָנוּם שָׁחֹר
- solanum shakhor
Hemicryptophyte
- Cultivated areas (weeds)
- Disturbed habitats
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distribution and other botanical details.
Medicinal Complaints / Uses
Solanum nigrum L.
| System/State | Traditional Complaint/Use |
Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/ Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatological | Rash & small skin lesions |
Vulnerary | Cook aerial parts & fruit + Cichorium intybus + Descurainia sophia & drink. (TOXIC See CAUTIONS). |
Aerial parts, Fruit | Z |
| Gastrointestinal | Jaundice |
Hepatic | Cook aerial parts & fruit + Cotoneaster nummularia + Alhagi sp. + Anchusa sp. + Nymphaea sp. + Cichorium root. Pour liquid stew onto Cassia fistula, add almond oil & drink x1 morning for 5 days. Eat plenty of watermelon with above preparation & also eat a small live fish every morning. (TOXIC See CAUTIONS.) |
Aerial parts, Fruit | Z |
| Infectious Diseases | High fever & malaria |
Anti-malarial, Anti-pyretic | This preperation has 2 parts A & B: A. Cook fruit & aerial parts in water + Viola odorata + Nymphaea alba + Cichorium root. B. Cook Cassia fistula + Alhagi + almond oil. Drink A for 3 days morning & evening. If no improvement drink B only once. Next day, drink B again but prepared without Cassia fistula. If fever persists on 6th day, give original B again. (TOXIC See CAUTIONS.) |
Aerial parts, Fruit | Z |
| Infectious Diseases | Measles ("hasba"; see NOTES) |
Anti-Infective | This preperation has 3 parts, A, B, C A. Cook fruit & aerial parts in water + Viola odorata + Nymphaea alba + Cichorium root. B. Cook Cassia fistula + Alhagi + almond oil. C. Cook Cassia fistula + Alhagi + almond oil+ Cotoneaster. Drink A for 3 days, morning and evening. If no improvement drink B. As a final treatment drink C. (TOXIC see CAUTIONS.) |
Aerial parts, Fruit | Z |
| Venoms, Bites & Stings | Bee & scorpion stings |
Ant-venom | Grind fresh aerial parts & apply to affected area. |
Aerial parts | B |
| Wound Healing | Abscess |
Anti-Infective, Vulnerary | Grind fresh aerial parts & apply to affected area. |
Aerial parts | B |
The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.
Z notes that the symptoms of "hasba" translated as "measles," can include high fever for 7 days, delirium, tongue biting, difficulty speaking, black tongue & black spots on the body.
Solanum nigrum is TOXIC containing solanine, a glycosidic, steroidal alkaloid which is most concentrated in the unripe green berries & immature fruit & leaves. Poisoning usually occurs 6-12 hrs after ingestion causing abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sweating, confusion & drowsiness. Eating large amounts can cause death from cardiac arrhythmias & respiratory failure. Livestock poisoning from nitrate toxicity is caused by grazing on leaves of this species. It has been stipulated that the cooked ripe fruit of black Solanum nigrum is safe to eat, but only at very high temperatures (above 243°C) & not at normal cooking temperatures which do not degrade solanine. If Solanum nigrum leaves are boiled as a vegetable the cooking water must be discarded & replaced several times to remove toxins. (REF: Kuete V, in Toxicological Survey of African Medicinal Plants, (2014) 2
2.5.12 Solanum)