Home > Herbs > Solanum Tuberosum

potato

Solanum tuberosum · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Extensive (1254 studies) · ★★★★★

Potato, scientifically known as Solanum tuberosum, is more than just a dietary staple. Beyond its nutritional value, this tuberous plant possesses significant medicinal potential. Rich in bioactive compounds, it is traditionally utilized for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties, offering promising therapeutic applications in modern herbal pharmacology.

Family
Solanaceae
Native range
Europe
Parts used
Leaf · Fruit
Common names
Potato · Potato
Scientific synonyms
Solanum Andigenum F. Ancacpomacanchicum · Solanum Tuberosum F. Coriala · 423 more

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Solanum tuberosum

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • papa
  • patata
  • papa

German:

  • Kartoffel
  • Erdbirne
  • Grundbirne
  • Erdapfel
  • Potaten
  • Potacke
  • Erdknolle
  • Kartoffel

French:

  • pomme de terre
  • patate
  • tubercule
  • pommes-de-terre
  • patate
  • pomme de terre

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. Therefore, the medicinal species Solanum tuberosum is defined by this specific hierarchical lineage.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Solanales
Family Solanaceae
Genus Solanum

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Solanum tuberosum, exhibits a broad presence across several key regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution extends through the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within the borders of both Belgium and Germany. Additionally, the plant is widely distributed throughout Southwestern Europe, specifically within France. These various locations highlight the significant geographical range this medicinal species occupies.

Region Area
Northern Europe Great Britain
Northern Europe Ireland
Middle Europe Belgium
Middle Europe Germany
Southwestern Europe France
Eastern Europe Baltic States
Eastern Europe East European Russia
Eastern Europe South European Russia
West-Central Tropical Africa DR Congo
Central Asia Tadzhikistan

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Solanum tuberosum is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving in diverse environments ranging from lower elevations of 500 m AMSL to high-altitude regions reaching a maximum of 3600 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences are notably versatile, encompassing areas as varied as coastal regions and high-mountain ecosystems. This wide elevational range allows the species to adapt to a significant gradient of temperature and atmospheric pressure variations, facilitating its presence across multiple ecological niches.

Elevational range max:
3600 m AMSL
Elevational range min:
500 m AMSL
Habitat :
Coastal

Life history

The life history of Solanum tuberosum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a geophyte, utilizing underground storage organs to survive unfavorable environmental conditions, which inherently classifies it as a type of cryptophyte. This strategy of maintaining vital structures beneath the soil surface enables the plant to emerge and thrive periodically, ensuring its long-term survival and reproductive success within its ecological niche.

Life form :
geophyte
Life form :
cryptophyte
Lifecycle :
perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Solanum tuberosum is characterized by a growth form identified as a non-woody herb. As a terrestrial species, it does not function as an aquatic or semiaquatic plant, nor does it act as an epiphyte, maintaining an independent existence rather than living as a parasite. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, meaning it does not require external structures to grow, and its shoots maintain an erect orientation. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 0.717 m, with individual heights ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Aquatic :
terrestrial
Climber :
self-supporting
Epiphyte :
terrestrial
Growth form :
herb
Parasite :
independent
Plant height max:
1 m
Plant height mean:
0.716666666666667 m
Plant height min:
0.3 m
Shoot orientation :
erect
Woodiness :
non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Solanum tuberosum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. The plant exhibits a non-succulent leaf structure and is strictly non-carnivorous, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than nitrogen fixation, as it lacks the capability to act as a nitrogen fixer. Its foliage displays a pinnatisect leaf form with significant morphological variability; leaf length ranges from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 30 cm, while leaf width varies from 1 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 2.1 cm. The leaves possess a mean surface area of 131.28 cm² and exhibit a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 237.35 cm²/g, reflecting the relationship between the leaf's photosynthetic capacity and its biomass density.

Carnivory :
non-carnivorous
Leaf form :
pinnatisect
Leaf length max:
30 cm
Leaf length min:
1 cm
Leaf size mean:
131.28 cm²
Leaf width max:
15 cm
Leaf width mean:
2.1 cm
Leaf width min:
1 cm
Nitrogen fixer :
no
Photosynthetic pathway :
C3
Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:
237.35 cm²/g
Succulence :
no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Solanum tuberosum is characterized by a seasonal flowering period that typically begins in June and concludes in July. During this phase, the plant produces violet-colored flowers that are primarily serviced by biotic pollination syndromes, specifically through insect pollination. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, it does not utilize asexual reproduction. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as berries, which are green in color. These berries typically possess a mean length and width of 1.75 cm, though they can range in dimensions from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm (noting specific morphological variations). The dispersal of the plant is categorized as anthropochorous. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit highly consistent dimensions, with a mean length, minimum length, and maximum length all recorded at 2 mm, a mean seed mass and maximum seed mass of 7e-04 g, and a uniform seed volume of 0.62 mm³.

Dehiscence :
indehiscent
Dispersal syndrome :
anthropochorous
Flower colour :
violet
Flowering time :
Jun
Flowering time :
Jul
Fruit colour :
green
Fruit dryness :
fleshy
Fruit length max:
1.5 cm
Fruit length mean:
1.75 cm
Fruit type :
berry
Fruit width max:
1.5 cm
Fruit width mean:
1.75 cm
Pollination syndrome :
insect
Pollination syndrome :
biotic
Reproduction asexual :
absent
Seed length mean:
2 mm
Seed mass mean:
7e-04 g
Seed volume max:
0.62 mm³
Self fertilization :
present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Solanum tuberosum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, stem.

Plant parts reported in Solanum tuberosum
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Leaf 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Fruit 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Stem 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Leaf

  1. Biochimie
  2. Metabolites
  3. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Fruit

  1. Metabolites

Stem

  1. Metabolites

Chemicals

Solanum tuberosum has 361 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include STARCH, Lectin, ascorbic acid, AMYLOPECTIN, AMYLOSE.

Chemicals reported in Solanum tuberosum
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
STARCH 7 supporting sources ★★★★☆
Lectin 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
ascorbic acid 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
AMYLOPECTIN 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
AMYLOSE 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
CHLOROGENIC ACID 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Kukoamine A 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
LEAD 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
SOLANINE 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Sesquiterpenes 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

STARCH

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. The American journal of clinical nutrition
  3. The Journal of nutrition
  4. Comptes rendus biologies
  5. International journal of biological macromolecules
View 2 additional sources
  1. Plant signaling & behavior
  2. Journal of functional foods

Lectin

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Scandinavian journal of immunology
  3. The Biochemical journal

ascorbic acid

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Journal of food science and technology
  3. Die Nahrung

AMYLOPECTIN

  1. International journal of biological macromolecules
  2. Journal of functional foods

AMYLOSE

  1. International journal of biological macromolecules
  2. Carbohydrate research

CHLOROGENIC ACID

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Kukoamine A

  1. Food chemistry
  2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

LEAD

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Environmental geochemistry and health

SOLANINE

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Plant & cell physiology

Sesquiterpenes

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

Activities

Solanum tuberosum has 789 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antihypertensive, Antiplatelet, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor.

Activities reported in Solanum tuberosum
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antioxidant 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Analgesic 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antihypertensive 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiplatelet 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
11B-HSD-Inhibitor 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
5-HT-Inhibitor 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
ACE-Inhibitor 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
ANS-Paralytic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antioxidant

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
  3. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Analgesic

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association

Antihypertensive

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. La Clinica terapeutica

Antiplatelet

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Biochimie

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

  1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

  1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

  1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

  1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

  1. Dr. Duke

ANS-Paralytic

  1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Solanum tuberosum has 22 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Ralstonia solanacearum, pain, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium, Escherichia coli.

Conditions investigated for Solanum tuberosum
Condition Supporting sources Consensus
Ralstonia solanacearum 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Pain 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Bacillus cereus 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Bacillus megaterium 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Escherichia coli 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Malnutrition 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Potato virus x 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Pseudomonas syringae 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Staphylococcus aureus 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Atopic dermatitis 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Ralstonia solanacearum

  1. Physiologia plantarum
  2. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

Pain

  1. Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association
  2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Bacillus cereus

  1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Bacillus megaterium

  1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Escherichia coli

  1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Malnutrition

  1. Food science & nutrition

Potato virus x

  1. The plant pathology journal

Pseudomonas syringae

  1. Physiologia plantarum

Staphylococcus aureus

  1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Atopic dermatitis

  1. Molecular medicine reports

Preparations

Solanum tuberosum has 4 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dried, minced, plant regenerates of potato herb, sterile potato herb.

Preparations reported for Solanum tuberosum
Preparation Supporting sources Consensus
Dried 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Minced 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Plant regenerates of potato herb 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Sterile potato herb 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Dried

  1. Journal of comparative pathology

Minced

  1. Journal of comparative pathology

Plant regenerates of potato herb

  1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Sterile potato herb

  1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications