Solanum muricatum
Solanum muricatum, commonly known as the prickly nightshade, is a versatile medicinal plant native to tropical regions. Renowned for its bioactive compounds, it is traditionally utilized in folk medicine to treat various ailments. Research continues to explore its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for modern therapeutic applications.
- Scientific name: Solanum muricatum
- Family: Solanaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established 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 muricatum, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Portuguese, it is called Melão-andino, while in Chinese, it is widely recognized as 香瓜茄 across multiple scripts and regions, including simplified Chinese (香瓜茄), traditional Chinese (香瓜茄), as well as the specific regional variations for Hong Kong (香瓜茄) and mainland China (香瓜茄).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pt | Melão-andino | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 香瓜茄 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 香瓜茄 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 香瓜茄 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 香瓜茄 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 香瓜茄 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 香瓜茄 | Wikidata |
| pl | Psianka melonowa | Wikidata |
| qu | Q'achan | Wikidata |
| ru | Пепино | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is native to the western regions of South America. Its primary geographical distribution spans across several specific countries in this part of the continent. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Colombia. The species is also documented to inhabit the territories of Ecuador. Finally, its natural range extends further south into Peru.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Ecuador | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Solanum muricatum, is a versatile species that offers different culinary and medicinal applications depending on the part used. Its foliage can be utilized as leafy vegetables, providing nutritional value similar to other edible members of the nightshade family. Additionally, the plant produces distinct berries that are a key feature of its biological profile, though care must be taken as the properties of these fruits can vary significantly in terms of toxicity and medicinal use.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leafy vegetables | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| berries | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Solanum muricatum has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include breast cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer.
- Total uses
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colon cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| liver cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lung cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ovarian cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| prostate cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stomach cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |