Forest bitterberry
StarSolanum anguivi
Synonyms: Solanum indicum var. micranthum, Solanum occidentale, Solanum indicum var. inerme, Solanum pseudogeminifolium, Solanum indicum subsp. zechii, Solanum rederi, Solanum kandtii, Solanum indicum var. pseudogeminifolium, Solanum indicum var. brevipedicellatum, Solanum indicum var. monbuttorum, Solanum indicum subsp. grandifrons, Solanum indicum var. lividum, Solanum indicum subsp. olivaceum, Solanum indicum var. bukobense, Solanum indicum var. maroanum, Solanum indicum var. breviaculeatum, Solanum indicum subsp. mesodolichum, Solanum indicum var. grandemunitum, Solanum wildemanii, Solanum indicum var. dichroanthum, Solanum indicum subsp. pervilleanum, Solanum indicum var. carvalhoi, Solanum stuhlmannii, Solanum urosepalum, Solanum ueleense, Solanum schroederi, Solanum indicum subsp. clinocarpum, Solanum flamignii, Solanum indicum var. subquercinum, Solanum indicum var. jaegeri, Solanum indicum var. sakarense, Solanum nguelense, Solanum indicum var. spathotrichum, Solanum jespersenii, Solanum indicum var. halophilum, Solanum yangambiense, Solanum indicum var. kandtii, Solanum indicum var. kiwuense, Solanum distichum, Solanum dinklagei, Solanum senegambicum, Solanum buettneri, Solanum orthocarpum, Solanum jaegeri, Solanum rohrii, Solanum aethiopicum subsp. anguivi, Solanum indicum var. arussorum, Solanum indicum var. modicearmatum, Solanum indicum subsp. newtonii, Solanum aurantiacobaccatum, Solanum indicum var. busogae, Solanum hermannii, Solanum carvalhoi, Solanum indicum var. brevistellatum, Solanum indicum subsp. rohrii, Solanum sakarense, Solanum grotei, Solanum halophilum, Solanum dichroanthum, Solanum indicum var. depauperatum, Solanum mesodolichum, Solanum indicum var. nguelense, Solanum indicum var. profundelobatum, Solanum indicum var. eldamae, Solanum spathotrichum, Solanum indicum var. parvifolium, Solanum albidum, Solanum indicum var. suprastrigulosum, Solanum indicum subsp. distichum, Solanum indicum var. immunitum, Solanum scalare, Solanum indicum var. grotei, Solanum ruwenzoriense, Solanum newtonii, Solanum batangense
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In tropical Africa and India, forest bitterberry (Solanum anguivi) is used in traditional medicine: the bitter root is taken as a carminative and expectorant for coughs, colic, dysuria, toothache and fever, and the species is an ingredient of the Ayurvedic dasamula formulation (Indian and African ethnomedicine records). The fruit is widely eaten as a cooked vegetable.
Gallery
Botanical Description
Solanum anguivi, the forest bitterberry or African eggplant, is a perennial shrub of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) indigenous to the non-arid parts of Africa and also found in parts of Asia. It grows up to about two to three metres, with erect, branching, often prickly stems and ovate to elliptic leaves that may bear scattered spines along the midrib and are sometimes shallowly lobed. Star-shaped white to pale-violet flowers with prominent yellow anthers are borne in small lateral clusters and give way to numerous small, round berries that ripen from green to bright orange or red, persisting in showy bunches. The bitter fruits are rich in polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamin C. A hardy plant of forest margins, bushland and cultivated ground, it is grown across tropical Africa as a vegetable and is closely related to the cultivated African eggplant group.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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