Black Nightshade

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European black nightshade
• black nightshade
• garden nightshade
• blackberry nightshade
• common nightshade
• poisonberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Solanum morella subsp. nigrum
• Solanum nigrum var. tauschii
• Solanum morella var. schultesii
• Solanum villosum var. glabrescens
• Solanum nigrum var. ochrocarpum
• Solanum nigrum var. stenopetalum
• Solanum nigrum inerme
• Solanum nigrum subsp. europaeum
• Solanum rottboellianum
• Solanum reineggeri
• Solanum bidentatum
• Solanum cechicum
• Solanum chenopodium
• Solanum peregrinum
• Solanum exaratum
• Solanum ganchouenense
• Solanum extremiorientale
• Solanum cestrifolium
• Solanum nigrum subsp. chlorocarpum
• Solanum nigrum subsp. moschatum
• Solanum nigrum var. flavum
• Solanum nigrum var. luteovirescens
• Solanum vulgare
• Solanum judaicum
• Solanum moschatum
• Solanum nigrum var. vulgatum
• Solanum rhinozerothis
• Solanum cestrophyllum
• Solanum stenopetalum
• Solanum tauschii
• Solanum pseudoflavum
• Solanum nigrum subsp. schultesii
• Solanum nigrum var. stylosum
• Solanum schultesii
• Solanum nigrum var. atriplicifolium
• Solanum nigrum var. incisum
• Solanum decipiens
• Solanum nigrum var. chlorocarpum
• Solanum nigrum var. elbaensis
• Solanum chenopodiifolium
• Solanum nigrum var. flavidum
• Solanum cestrifolium
• Solanum nigrum var. vulgare
• Solanum nigrum var. judaicum
• Solanum vulgatum var. nigrum
• Solanum vulgatum var. chlorocarpum
• Solanum nigrum var. perennans
• Solanum nigrum f. stenopetalum
• Solanum nigrum f. chlorocarpum
• Solanum guineense var. nepalense
• Solanum pterocaulum var. deppei
• Solanum nigrum subvar. atriplicifolium
• Solanum nigrum var. schultesii
• Solanum nigrum f. pallidum
• Solanum nigrum f. luridum
• Solanum memphiticum var. repandum
• Solanum nigrum f. judaicum
• Solanum nigrum f. paludosum
• Solanum nigrum var. macrocarpum
• Solanum nigrum var. glabrum
• Solanum nigrum var. hebecaulon

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae, it is classified under the genus Solanum. Together, these taxonomic levels identify Solanum nigrum as a distinct member of its biological lineage.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide presence across several regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, its distribution includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It can also be found growing throughout the landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species is established within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its range extends further north into the country of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Solanum nigrum is characterized by a remarkably broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to thrive across diverse topographical gradients. It can be found from sea level, with a minimum elevation of 0 m AMSL, up to a maximum height of 3600 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 2600 m AMSL. This wide vertical range is supported by its ability to colonize specific niche environments, particularly within dense secondary shrublands and rudeeral vegetation. By flourishing in these disturbed or rapidly regenerating habitats, the species demonstrates a high degree of adaptability to various ecological successions and environmental conditions.

Elevational range max:

3600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Solanum nigrum is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives the unfavorable seasons primarily through the persistence of seeds, which remain dormant until conditions become optimal for growth. Throughout its active phase, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as it completes its reproductive cycle or responds to seasonal changes. This life strategy allows the species to rapidly colonize disturbed habitats, utilizing its therophytic life form to efficiently exploit temporary resources before returning to a seed bank state.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Solanum nigrum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This terrestrial plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and functions as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber or liana. As an independent species, it does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant's stature is variable, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, though it typically maintains an average plant height of approximately 0.53125 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.53125 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Solanum nigrum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate medicinal species. Its vegetative architecture features an alternate leaf arrangement, with leaves exhibiting an ovate form. The leaf dimensions show significant variability, with a mean leaf length of 6.25 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 14 cm) and a mean leaf width of 3.5 cm (ranging from 1.5 cm to a maximum of 7 cm), resulting in an average leaf size of 12.725 cm². The plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 252.25 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area dynamics. Furthermore, the species is non-succulent, non-carnivorous, and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability to support its metabolic processes.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.25 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

12.725 cm²

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

252.25 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Solanum nigrum is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate efficient reproductive cycles. The flowering period typically begins in June and extends through October. These white-colored flowers utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects for successful pollen transfer. Within the floral structure, self-fertilization is present, ensuring reproductive success even in varying conditions. Following fertilization, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as berries, which transition to a black color upon maturity. These berries are relatively small, with a mean length of approximately 0.757 cm and a mean width of 0.773 cm, though they can reach a maximum dimension of 0.8 cm in both length and width and a minimum width of 0.5 cm. The dispersal of the plant is zoochorous, specifically employing an endozoochorous strategy where seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. The seeds themselves are minute, with a mean mass of approximately 0.000788 g (ranging from 0.00023 g to 0.00122 g), a mean length of 1 mm, and a mean width of 2 mm. The seed volume varies, with a mean of 0.59725 mm³, a minimum of 0.014 mm³, and a maximum of 1.9 mm³. Asexual reproduction is notably absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.756666666666667 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.773333333333333 cm

Fruit width min:

0.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00122 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0007880626 g

Seed mass min:

0.00023 g

Seed volume max:

1.9 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.59725 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.014 mm³

Seed width mean:

2 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Solanum nigrum has 4 reported plant parts identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, root, seed.

Leaf

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia
2. Scientific reports
3. Journal of food and drug analysis
4. Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology
5. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology

Fruit

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. International journal of reproductive biomedicine

Root

1. The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene

Seed

1. Virology journal

Chemicals

Solanum nigrum has 93 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CD, ANTHOCYANIN, Flavonoids, BETA-SITOSTEROL, CHLOROGENIC ACID.

CD

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
2. International journal of environmental research and public health
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Natural product research
2. Biomolecules
3. Scientific reports

Flavonoids

1. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Scientific reports
2. Journal of food and drug analysis

CHLOROPHYLL

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
2. Malaysian journal of nutrition

CR

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Biological trace element research

D-galactose

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

DIOSGENIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

SAPONIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. TheScientificWorldJournal

Activities

Solanum nigrum has 319 reported activities identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic, Diuretic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Indian journal of experimental biology

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Drug design, development and therapy
3. Indian journal of experimental biology
4. Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Iranian Red Crescent medical journal
4. Current drug discovery technologies

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Omics : a journal of integrative biology

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biological trace element research
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology
3. Biological trace element research

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Studies in ancient medicine

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Solanum nigrum has 52 reported investigations on conditions identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer, cancer, inflammation, antioxidant, antipyretic.

Breast cancer

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)
3. Indian journal of experimental biology

Cancer

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)

Inflammation

1. In silico pharmacology
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Kidney research and clinical practice

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. Kidney research and clinical practice
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Liver diseases

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Pain

1. Kidney research and clinical practice
2. Studies in ancient medicine

Covid-19

1. Alternative therapies in health and medicine

Cancer

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Preparations

Solanum nigrum has 32 reported preparations identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, extract, methanol extracts, methanolic extracts, 50% ethanol extract of the whole plant.

Extracts

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Toxicology reports
4. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
5. Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology

Extract

1. Hindustan antibiotics bulletin
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Genes & nutrition

Methanolic extracts

1. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
2. Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine

50% ethanol extract of the whole plant

1. Fitoterapia

S. nigrum aqueous extracts

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Sn extract

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Alcoholic extract of leaves

1. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR

Aqueous extract of s. nigrum leaves

1. Scientific reports

Aqueous extracts

1. Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine