Solanum torvum Sw.
| Botanical Name | Solanum torvum Sw. |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Solanaceae |
| Genus: | Solanum |
| Species: | S. torvum |
| Common Names: | Solanum (English), Fausse aubergine; aubergine sauvage (French). |
Plant Synonyms
Solanum mayanum Lundell; Solanum ferrugineum Jacq.; Solanum mannii Wright
Plant Local Names
Ghana: Akan- Kwao Nsuswaa
Cote d'lvoire: Kyama- Guiguisuron
Nigeria: Edo- Omgbabelara, Yoruba- asimonwu
Sierra Leone: Kono- Kolau
Plant Habitat
S. torvum originates from Central and South America, where it is found from Mexico to Brazil and Peru, anjfl is widespread in the Caribbean. It is now a paniropical weed; in West and Central Africa it is a kitchen garden crop, and probably occurs in other regions of Africa as well. S. torvum establishes itself on open land in disturbed soil, on roadsides, bushy pastures, recently abandoned farmland, river banks and wastelands, where it often turns into a weed that becomes hard to control. In Cameroon it is a characteristic pioneer species on fallow land. It is listed as a noxious weed in the south-eastern United States. It is normally found either near wetlands or in high rainfall areas, mainly in lowland regions, yet it is tolerant of dry periods. It grows well in full sunlight, light shade or shade, but does poorly under a closed forest canopy.
Plant Material of Interest
Fruit, Leaf, stem and root
Plant Description
An erect shrub, up to 3.55 m tall; stem pale green, stellate-tormentose, armed with flat scattered spines; leaves alternate, ovate to oblong-ovate, pinnately lobed, 7-19 cm long, 5- 18 cm broad, stellate hairs on both surfaces; petiole 1-4 cm long, also armed with 1-3 cm spines; inflorescence lateral, usually extra axillary racemose, often dichotomous; flowers, many, white or lilac, about 1 cm long, corolla tube short, limb 5-lobed, stamens 4, filaments short, anthers united into a cone, ovary 2-celled; fruit round, 1-15 mm diameter, green, pale orange when ripe.
Plant Used Parts
Plant Uses
Solanum fruits, flowers and stems possess carminative, anthelmintic and bitter properties. The root is expectorant and used in the treatment of chest pain due to cough, asthma and bronchitis. The leaves are applied externally as a pain relieving agent. Different parts of the plant are used worldwide as an antidote for poison and for the treatment of fever, wounds, tooth ache, gastric ulceration, skin diseases, reproductive disorders, fever and arterial hypertension (Noumi et al., 1999; Noumi and Dibakto, 2000; Noumi, 2004; Ndebia et a/„ 2007; Muthu et al., 2006; Kala, 2005). In the treatment of female infertility, 3 or 4 g of fruit are macerated in palm wine and administered orally (Telefo et al., 2011). The fruits are boiled with leaves and a cupful of the decoction drunk to treat malaria (Asase ei al., 2010). The leaves are used in Central America, India, and Gabon to treat cuts and wounds and diabetes. In Sierra Leone, the fruit decoction is given to children suffering from cough, whereas in Senegal the plant is used to treat sore throat and stomachache. In the Philippines, roots of S. torvum are used for stomachache, while the decoction is drunk for indigestion, gastric pain at the navel, rheumatism, numbness, contusion, lumbar muscular pains, and amenorrhoea. Decoction is used in some areas to lessen postpartum haemorrhage.
Plant Therapeutic Action
Antipyretic, antirheumatic, antiphlogistic, anti- infective, anti-contusion, antiinflammatory and analgesia; carminative, anthelmintic, bitter, expectorant
Plant Precaution for Use
None recommended on the basis of the acute study in rats. However, the unripe fruits are reported to be poisonous.
Plant Adverse Effect
High doses may affect liver and kidney function
Plant Contraindication
No information available
Plant Dosage Forms
Decoction, bitters, powders, juice
Plant Dosage
Decoction of 15 to 30 gm dried roots, or processed into syrup or alcoholic suspension.
Plant Storage
Store in a cool dry place
Plant Chromatographic Fingerprint
Analytical TLC on silica gel G60 F254, 0.25 mm layer in petroleum ether (40-60 °C)/chloroform [2:8], detection in daylight, after spraying with anisaldehyde (0.5 ml) mixed with 10 ml glacial acetic acid, 85 ml methanol and 5 ml concentrated sulphuric acid and heatecf to 100- 110°C for 5-10 min. Presence of five characteristic spots with Rfs 0.96 (pink), 0.80 (pink), 0.67 (grey), 0.60 (pink) and 0.44 (green).
Plant Constituents
Isoflavonoid (torvanol A), steroidal glycoside (torvoside H); neochlorogenin 6-0-β-D- quinovopyranoside, neochlorogenin-6-O-β-D- xylopyranosyl-(1-3)-β-D-quinovopyranoside, neochlorogenin-6-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl- (1-3)-β-D-quinovopyranoside, solagenin-6-O-β-D-qu inovopyranoside, solagenin-6-O-α-L-
rhamnopyranosyl-(1-3)-β-D-quinovopyranoside, isoquercetin, rutin, kaempferol; quercetin; alkaloids (solasodine, soagenin); tannins (Kusirisin et al., 2009; Yuan-Yuan et al., 2011; Perez-Amador etai, 2007; Arthan et al., 2006).
Plant Pictures
Plant References
Arthan, D., Kittakoop, P., Esen, A., Svasti, J. (2006). Furostanol glycoside 26-O-beta- glucosidase from the leaves of Solanum torvum. Phytochemistry 67(1):27-33.
Asase, A., Akweteya, G.A., Achelb, D.G. (2010). Ethnopharmacological use of herbal remedies for the treatment of malaria in the Dangme West District of Ghana. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 129:367-376.
Kala, C. P. (2005). Ethnomedicinal botany of the Apatani in the Eastern Himalayan region of India. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 1:11.
Kusirisin, W., Jaikang, C., Chaiyasut, C., Narongchai, P. (2009). Effect of Polyphenol^ Compounds from Solanum torvum on Plasma Lipid Peroxidation, Superoxide anion and Cytochrome P450 2E1 in Human Liver Microsomes. Medicinal Chemistry 5:583-588.
Muthu, C., Ayyanar, M., Raja, N., Ignacimuthu, S. (2006). Medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Kancheepuram District of Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2:43.