A Comparative Nutraceutical Analysis of Edible Solanum L. Species Reported in India.

The Genus with its 1234 species has worldwide distribution and is native to almost all continents, except several parts of Canada, Arctic and Antarctica poles. The species are widely used for vegetable and medicines. Various species of Solanum are herbs, climbers, undershrubs, shrubs and trees. From India, 64 species have been reported inclusive of cultivars, out of which 16 species possess medicinal properties Species like Solanum lycopersicon, S. melongana, S. spirale, S. tuberosum are widely used as vegetable and other supplementary food recipes whereas in the traditional culture of Northeast India, S nigrum, S. torvum, S. tuberosum, S. violaceum are used as vegetable with the concept of digestion and worm infestation in different names and the natives adapted the cultivation of the concern species in their kitchen gardens for self and family use. To serve the purpose, shoots of S. nigrum and berries of other species are being used whereas in Ayurvedic system of medicine, S. nigrum is described for the preparation of liver related medicines like Kakamachi Ghrit.