Solanum americanum
Glossy nightshade
Solanum americanum, commonly known as American nightshade, is a versatile medicinal plant belonging to the Solanaceae family. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, it is traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and digestive issues. This herbaceous plant offers significant pharmacological potential for modern drug development and healing.
- Scientific name: Solanum americanum
- Family: Solanaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Solanum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Solanales | WCVP |
| Family | Solanaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Solanum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Solanum americanum, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Quechua, it is called Qhaya-qhaya, while in Azerbaijani, it is known as Amerika quşüzümü. In Japanese, the species is identified as テリミノイヌホオズキ, and in Chinese, it is called 光果龍葵. Finally, in Swedish, it is commonly referred to as Amerikansk nattskatta.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| qu | Qhaya-qhaya | Wikidata |
| az | Amerika quşüzümü | Wikidata |
| ja | テリミノイヌホオズキ | Wikidata |
| zh | 光果龍葵 | Wikidata |
| sv | Amerikansk nattskatta | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 光果龍葵 | Wikidata |
| cs | lilek americký | Wikidata |
| ha | Gautan kaji | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 少花龙葵 | Wikidata |
| trv | Sama qudung | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Middle Europe, its presence is documented in countries such as Belgium and Germany. Moving toward the southwest, the species can also be found growing in Spain. Its range extends significantly eastward into the territories of East European Russia. Finally, the distribution reaches the Macaronesian islands, specifically including the Canary Islands.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Eastern Europe | East European Russia | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Solanum americanum, is a versatile medicinal herb where various components offer different therapeutic potentials. The leaves are often the most significant part used in traditional remedies, frequently serving as the primary source for medicinal extracts. In certain cultures, these leaves are even consumed as leafy vegetables, providing nutritional value alongside their healing properties. When conducting botanical studies or preparing herbal preparations, researchers often collect leafy vegetable samples to analyze their chemical constituents. In addition to the foliage, the fruits—which are small, berry-like structures—can also play a role in the plant's biological profile. Ultimately, many herbal preparations utilize the entire aerial parts of the plant, encompassing everything above the ground to ensure a comprehensive application of its medicinal qualities.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leafy vegetables | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leafy vegetable samples | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Solanum americanum has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include chlorogenic acid, 3-indolecarboxylic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, Corchorifatty acid B, N-trans-p-coumaroyloctopamine.
- Total chemicals
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| chlorogenic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-indolecarboxylic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-hydroxybenzoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Corchorifatty acid B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| N-trans-p-coumaroyloctopamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Solanum americanum has 5 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antiepileptic, Antimicrobial.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiepileptic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Solanum americanum has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include type 2 diabetes, inflammation, bacteria, cancer, cutaneous leishmaniasis.
- Total uses
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 14
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| type 2 diabetes | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cutaneous leishmaniasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epilepsy | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fungi | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| liver disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |