Yellow-fruit nightshade
StarSolanum virginianum
Synonyms: Solanum melongena, Solanum surattense, Solanum xanthocarpum var. geoffrayi, Solanum jacquinii, Solanum arabicum, Solanum virginicum, Solanum mairei, Solanum macannii, Solanum gula, Solanum surattense var. awanicum, Solanum xanthocarpum var. schraderi, Solanum xanthocarpum, Solanum xanthocarpum var. jacquinii, Solanum armatum
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Ayurveda, kantakari is a classical herb counted among the Daśamūla (ten roots). The whole plant, root, and fruit are used chiefly for respiratory complaints (kasa-shwasa), being prescribed for cough, asthma, bronchitis, and the common cold; it is regarded as a bitter tonic and expectorant. It is also employed across wider Indian folk medicine for fever, dysuria, and digestive complaints (Khare, 2007).
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Botanical Description
Solanum virginianum (synonyms S. xanthocarpum, S. surattense), known as kantakari or yellow-berried nightshade, is a prickly, spreading perennial herb of the Solanaceae. It grows as a diffuse, woody-based plant with stems and leaves armed with numerous sharp, yellowish prickles. The leaves are ovate to oblong, sinuately lobed, and bear prickles along the midrib and veins. Bluish-purple, star-shaped flowers with a central cone of yellow anthers are borne in few-flowered cymes. The fruit is a round berry, green with white mottling when young and turning yellow at maturity, seated in an enlarged spiny calyx. The cylindrical root may reach 10-45 cm long. It is widespread across India and tropical Asia, occurring on waste ground, roadsides, and dry open areas.
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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