eggplant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• brinjal
• eggplant
• brinjal eggplant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, its taxonomic placement concludes within the genus Solanum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning multiple continents and climate zones. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the DR Congo. Its presence extends across the Western Indian Ocean, where it inhabits the islands of Mauritius, Madagascar, and Réunion. Additionally, the species reaches into Central Asia, specifically located in Kazakhstan. This wide distribution highlights the adaptability of the species across various environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Solanum melongena is characterized by its adaptability to various landscapes, frequently colonizing anthropogenically influenced environments such as cropfields and parks. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal tolerance, thriving across a wide vertical gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL. Throughout its distribution, it maintains a mean elevational range of approximately 1500 m AMSL, allowing it to persist in diverse topographical settings ranging from lowland agricultural zones to mid-elevation habitats.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

cropfields,parks

Life history

The life history of Solanum melongena is characterized by a versatile lifecycle that can manifest as an annual, biennial, or perennial, depending on environmental conditions and cultivation practices. In terms of its growth habit and ecological strategy, the plant is classified as a therophyte, completing its life cycle through the production of seeds that allow it to persist across varying seasons. This therophyte life form indicates that the plant primarily survives the unfavorable periods in a seed state, emerging as a vigorous herbaceous individual during favorable growing conditions.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Solanum melongena is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies. In terms of its structural habit, the plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. The stature of the plant is relatively low, with a height that ranges from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.7 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 1.067 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.7 m

Plant height mean:

1.06666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Solanum melongena is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. Its foliar morphology exhibits significant variation, with leaf lengths reaching a minimum of 8 cm and leaf widths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 11 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 8 cm. The plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 137 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf density and resource allocation strategies. Furthermore, the species does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard mesophytic leaf structures rather than water-storing tissues, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

11 cm

Leaf width mean:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

137 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Solanum melongena is characterized by a versatile flowering period that can span from December through July, though the specific timing remains variable depending on environmental conditions. The plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Reproductive success is further supported by the presence of self-fertilization, allowing for reliable seed set. Following fertilization, the plant develops fleshy fruits that serve as the vessel for its seeds. The seeds themselves exhibit a highly consistent volume of 4.6 mm³, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.003468333 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00229 g to a maximum of 0.00427 g. Dispersal of the progeny is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing wind to distribute the seeds away from the parent plant.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00427 g

Seed mass mean:

0.003468333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00229 g

Seed volume max:

4.6 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Solanum melongena has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Natural product communications

Chemicals

Solanum melongena has 130 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, CADMIUM, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Flavonoids, LEAD.

Anthocyanins

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. 3 Biotech

CADMIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food biochemistry

Flavonoids

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Heliyon

LEAD

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

MERCURY

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

N-Trans-Feruloyl Tyramine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product communications

5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE

1. Dr. Duke

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

ANTHRACENE

1. Talanta

Activities

Solanum melongena has 594 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antihyperglycemic, Antiviral.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Food science & nutrition
4. Heliyon

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Heliyon

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

Antihyperglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hypocholesterolemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Solanum melongena has 32 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include asthma, bronchitis, infection, inflammation, Bacillus subtilis.

Asthma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Tropical life sciences research

Bronchitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Tropical life sciences research

Infection

1. Fitoterapia
2. Virusdisease

Inflammation

1. Food science & nutrition
2. The Journal of investigative dermatology

Bacillus subtilis

1. Heliyon

Escherichia coli

1. Heliyon

Hemorrhoid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Heliyon

Acne

1. The Journal of investigative dermatology

Acne vulgaris

1. The Journal of investigative dermatology

Preparations

Solanum melongena has 8 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 70% EtOH extract, AgNPs, MHE, SM extract, aqueous extract.

70% etoh extract

1. Natural product communications

Agnps

1. Food science & nutrition

Mhe

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sm extract

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Aqueous extract

1. Food science & nutrition

Chlorogenic acid-rich solanum melongena extract

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Crude extract

1. Food science & nutrition

Synthesized silver nanoparticles

1. Food science & nutrition