Solanum xanthocarpum contains alkaloids, phenolics, flavanoids, sterol, saponins and their glycosides, and has a wide range of medicinal values. This review presents chemical constituents of S. xanthocarpum and its biological activities.

Phytochemistry of Solanum xanthocarpum: an amazing traditional healer

The Nilgiri is a popular massif towering high in the Western Ghats in South India with an altitude of 2623 m. Nature has been magnanimous in bestowing Nilgiri district with rich evergreen temperate to tropical forests. A high degree of biodiversity, marked by varied flora and fauna of good therapeutic potential as well as the varied number of indigenous groups of people in this area, makes it very popular among herbalists. The district has six anthropologically well defined ethnic groups namely Todas, Kotas, Kurumbas, Irulas, Paniyas and Kattunayakas living here possibly since 1200 B.C. The present review highlights the ethnobiological profile of six indigenous populations and their dependence on ambient flora and fauna for traditional health care needs. It has been observed that about 2700 therapeutically potent plant species are available in this hill station of which almost all have come from local medicine. Some have been explored scientifically. However, about 150 plant species are still to be explored for their therapeutic potential. The ethnography, phytochemical and therapeutic uses as well as the anthropological perspectives of the local medicines have been discussed in this review.

Ethnobiology of the Nilgiri hills, India.

Comparative phytochemical and antimicrobial studies of Solanum macrocarpum and S. torvum leaves

Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad and Wendl ( syn.: Solanum virginianum L. , Solanum surettense Burm.f.; Family: Solanaceae; English name: Yellow berried nightshade), a prickly herb is immensely important (one of the members of Dasamula of the Ayur veda) in traditional system of medicine apart from possessing various potential uses including eco - friendly attributes. An enriched information about S. xanthocarpum is documented which may provide a basement for its maximum exploration for human welfare.

An update d overview on solanum xanthocarpum schrad and wendl

Natural products are considered important sources of potential chemotherapeutic agents. Here, we evaluated the antiproliferative activity and the toxicological effects of the methanolic extract and a pure compound obtained from Solanum capsicoides seeds. The phytochemical profile was analyzed by chromatographic and spectroscopy methods. The acute toxicity was assessed in mice orally treated with the extract (2000 mg/kg), in vitro hemolytic activity and micronucleus test. The mutagenicity, developmental toxicity, and lethal dose (LD50) of carpesterol were estimated by the Toxicity Estimation Software Tool (TEST) software. A sulforhodamine B assay was employed to evaluate the antiproliferative activity. The toxicological assays did not observe signs of toxicity, either during the behavioral observations or in the autopsies, as well as no mutagenicity and hemolytic activity. The carpesterol did not present mutagenic effect and hemolytic activity but presents developmental toxicology and LD50 of 410 mg/kg in toxicity estimations by the TEST software. The S. capsicoides extract exhibited antiproliferative activity mainly in leukemia (K562) cell lineage. However, carpesterol presented antiproliferative activity in glioma (U251), breast (MCF-7), kidney (786-0), ovary (OVCAR-03), and K562 cell lineages. The data obtained show that S. capsicoides extract presents antiproliferative and does not present toxicological effects. In addition, it was shown for the first time the antiproliferative and toxicological parameters of carpesterol.

T. K. Bhattacharya

Papers

A note on anti-inflammatory activity of carpesterol.