Solanum nigrum

Family: Solanaceae Genus: Solanum Species: nigrum

Synonyms: Solanum acutifolium, Solanum speciosum, Solanum roxburghii, Solanum cestrifolium, Solanum cestrophyllum, Solanum nigrum var. chlorocarpum, Solanum nigrum var. ochrocarpum, Solanum nigrum var. flavidum, Solanum probstianum, Solanum nigrum subsp. europaeum, Solanum nigrum var. schultesii, Solanum nigrum var. incisum, Solanum nigrum var. vulgare, Solanum repens, Solanum nigrum var. humile, Solanum chlorocarpum, Solanum nigrum f. judaicum, Solanum bidentatum, Solanum nigrum var. flavum, Solanum nigrum var. glabrum, Solanum morella subsp. nigrum, Solanum nigrum var. elbaensis, Solanum nigrum var. genuinum, Solanum besserianum, Solanum nigrum subsp. schultesii, Solanum cechicum, Solanum nigrum var. stylosum, Solanum paludosum, Solanum schultesii, Solanum ganchouenense, Solanum moschatum, Solanum nigrum f. chlorocarpum, Solanum pterocaulum var. deppei, Solanum nigrum f. longepedunculatum, Solanum nigrum var. stenopetalum, Solanum nigrum var. judaicum, Solanum nigrum inerme, Solanum nigrum var. vulgatum, Solanum stenopetalum, Solanum exaratum, Solanum vulgatum var. nigrum, Solanum nigrum subsp. chlorocarpum, Solanum nigrum var. perennans, Solanum chenopodium, Solanum nigrum subsp. moschatum, Solanum decipiens, Solanum extremiorientale, Solanum judaicum, Solanum villosum var. glabrescens, Solanum nigrum subvar. atriplicifolium, Solanum nigrum f. pallidum, Solanum vulgare, Solanum hirsutum, Solanum vulgatum, Solanum tauschii, Solanum pseudoflavum, Solanum nigrum f. paludosum, Solanum nigrum var. luteovirescens, Solanum nigrum var. macrocarpum, Solanum nigrum var. hebecaulon, Solanum rottboellianum, Solanum peregrinum, Solanum reineggeri, Solanum rhinozerothis, Solanum guineense var. nepalense, Solanum morella var. schultesii, Solanum memphiticum var. repandum, Solanum astroites, Solanum nigrum var. legitimum, Solanum nigrum var. subhastatum, Solanum nigrum var. tauschii, Solanum morella, Solanum nigrum f. luridum, Solanum vulgatum var. chlorocarpum, Solanum nigrum f. stenopetalum, Solanum chenopodiifolium, Solanum parviflorum, Solanum foetidum, Solanum viride, Solanum atriplicifolium, Solanum fontanesianum, Solanum cuneifolium, Solanum diffusum, Solanum nigrum var. hirsutum, Solanum nigrum var. atriplicifolium, Solanum humile, Solanum decurrens

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:

alterativehepaticbitter

Botanical Description

Solanum nigrum, the black nightshade, is an annual (sometimes short-lived perennial) herb of the nightshade family, 30 to 90 cm tall, with branching, often angular or slightly winged stems. The alternate leaves are ovate, with entire to wavy or shallowly toothed margins, on slender stalks. Small star-shaped flowers, white with five reflexed petals and a protruding cone of yellow anthers, are borne in small drooping, umbel-like clusters off the stem between the leaf nodes. The fruit is a small spherical berry that ripens from green to dull black (occasionally green-yellow), borne in nodding clusters. Unripe green berries and foliage contain toxic solanine glycoalkaloids, though fully ripe berries and cooked leaves of some races are eaten. A cosmopolitan weed, it grows on disturbed, cultivated, and waste ground throughout temperate and tropical regions.

Native Region: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Andaman Is., Assam, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Central European Rus, Chad, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Corse, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Djibouti, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, East Himalaya, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Gulf States, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Krym, Kuril Is., Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Manchuria, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicobar Is., North Caucasus, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Romania, Sakhalin, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Selvagens, Sicilia, Sinai, South China Sea, South European Russi, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Himalaya, West Siberia, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

Black nightshade was used medicinally by several Native North American peoples: the Rappahannock used it as a sedative, the Miwok prepared an eye medicine, and the Houma applied it in pediatric and dermatological care (Moerman, 1998). In Ayurvedic medicine the plant (kakamachi) is an important remedy regarded as alterative, hepatic, and bitter, used for liver disorders, skin diseases, and inflammation (Khare, 2007). The plant is toxic owing to solanine, and only ripe berries or properly cooked leaves are consumed in some regions.

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

269437

Important Disclaimer

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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