Description :

Solanum xanthocarpum, also called as yellow-berried nightshade, Indian night shade or yellow berried night shade plant, the common name in India is Kantakari, Ringani, Kateri, is also a medicinal plant used mostly in India. Thorny Nightshade is a herb which is erect, sometimes woody at base, 50–70 cm tall, copiously armed with sturdy, needlelike, broad-based prickles 0.5–2 cm × 0.5–1.5 mm. Kantakari plant is cultivated in Himalayas, South-East Malaysia, Australia, and Polynesia region. The plant is found well versed in India, often in waste places, on roadsides and in open space. Kantakari (Solanaceae family) has been used in Ayurvedic Traditional age old medicines for treatment of many infectious and degenerative diseases. Kantkari is a prickly herb, immensely important as it is one of the members of Dashamula (generic important formulae consisting of efficient 10 herbs) in traditional system of Ayurvedic Science. Ayurveda mentions its use in handling issues related to Bronchitis as cough expectorant, as diuretic, detoxification, laxative, fever, body pain, heart muscle swelling, pleurisy & in stomach bloatingness. A decoction of the Kantakari fruits of the plant is used by tribal and rural people of Orissa for the treatment of diabetes. The present study revealed that the phytoconstituents present in Kantakari fruit possess considerable Flavonoids, triterpenes, saponins antioxidants, useful alkaloids. Scientific study has shown that the Solanum or Indian night shade plant possesses anti-urolithiatic and natriuretic activities, tumoricidal properties and also anti-allergic and anti-cancerous effects. Nasal administration of this herb is said to be useful in reducing migraine and headache. The fumigation of the plant is helpful in piles. The decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of gonorrhea. The plant extract possesses antipyretic, anthelmintic, carminative, stomachic, febrifuge, laxative, rejuvenating and aphrodisiac properties.