Medicinal Uses of Awesome Black night shade

Awesome Black night shade

          

Scientific name- Solanum nigram

Local names:  sucha- Kalenjin

Manathakkali- Indian

Origin, Name and Distribution.

The black nightshade, also known as sunbbery or wonder cherry, is a small, erect and delicate annual herb. It has smooth and soft branches. The plant has alternate egg-shaped, elliptical leaves: white, cream or violet flowers in clusters and black fruit or orange in some varieties when ripe. The fruit has blue, black or white seeds depending on the variety. Solanum nigrum  is native to West Africa, but is now grown all over east Africa, mostly as a vegetable due to its health benefits especially when grown organically .

Phytochemistry (chemical contents)

An analysis of black nightshade or such a was found to consist of moisture  percent, protein 5.9 per cent, fat 1.0 per cent, minerals 2.1 per cent and carbohydrates 8.9 percent per 100 grams. The minerals and vitamins in it includes; calcium, phosphorous, iron, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin c. With its calorie value at 68Kcal.

Healing Power and curative properties

Solanum nigrum is a valuable plant to the Indians as they use it as a cardiac tonic. It corrects nutritional disorders. This plant is also thought to reduce excitement, irritation and pain.

The leaves of S.nigrum are mildly bitter, which becomes less pronounced after cooking. The fruits of the plant are of tonic value and serve as a laxative. They are also thought to improve appetite.

Dropsy

The plant is important in the treatment of dropsy.It increases the secretion and discharge of urine. It can be used as decoction or as a vegetable in the treatment of this disease. An extract of the leaves and stem , in doses of 6 to 8 ml can also be taken.

Fever

The lack night shade syrup can be taken to lower fever. To induce copius perspiration, a hot infusion of 0.75 to 1.25 decigrams of dried leaves can be used.

Stomach Disorders

The leaves of black nightshade are effective in the treatment of digestive disorders. The juice of the leaves can be used alone or mixed with other juices or liquids to treat stomach disorders like flatulence, peptic ulcers and colitis. An infusion of the plant is useful in dysentery and other stomach ailments.

Asthma

The plant helps in removing catarrhal patients. The fruits of the plant can be used in the treatment of asthma.

Skin Disorders

The plant is useful in chronic skin diseases. The juice extracted from the plant should be given in doses of 180 to 210 ml.

The juice can also be applied locally on the affected parts in chronic skin disease such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. As an anodyne or pain reliever, a decoction of the plant can be used for washing inflamed, irritated and painful parts of the body.

A paste of the plant serves as a useful applicant over corrosive ulcers, pustules and suppurating syphilitic ulcers, severe burns, herpes and rheumatic joints. Green fruits of the plant can be ground and applied locally on ringworms with gratifying results. A juice or poultice of leaves can be effectively applied on eruptive skin diseases, whitlow and burns.

Other Diseases

Hot leaves can be applied with gratifying results over swollen and painful scrotum and testicles.

Other uses

Sucha/S.nigrum leaves are popularly used as a vegetable . The leaves blend well with other green and pulses. The juices of the leaves can be mixed with medium like coconut water, coconut milk, butter-milk, cows’ milk and fruit juice.

 

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