Yellow-berried nightshade

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• yellow-fruit nightshade

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Solanum surattense var. awanicum
• Solanum surattense
• Solanum mairei
• Solanum xanthocarpum var. jacquinii
• Solanum mccannii
• Solanum jacquinii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Solanales, falling into the family Solanaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Solanum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range stretching across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, its presence is noted in both Mauritius and Madagascar. Moving toward Western Asia, the species can be found in the territories of Afghanistan and Iran. Additionally, its distribution extends into the Arabian Peninsula, specifically covering the Gulf States. These varied locations highlight the wide environmental adaptability of Solanum virginianum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Solanum virginiaanum is characterized by its specific altitudinal distribution within its native habitat, where it thrives across a diverse vertical gradient. This species is primarily found in montane and sub-montane environments, occupying an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 600 m AMSL to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. This broad range suggests an ability to adapt to varying atmospheric pressures, temperature fluctuations, and moisture levels typically associated with mid-to-high altitude ecosystems. Within these boundaries, the plant's distribution is influenced by the specific microclimates available between these two elevational limits, allowing it to establish itself in varied terrain.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Solanum virginianum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural life form, the species is classified as a therophyte, meaning it completes its life cycle via seeds and typically survives unfavorable seasons as a temporary seed bank. This specific life form categorization is consistent across its biological profile, identifying it as a therophyte in both its primary and secondary life form classifications.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Solanum virginianum is characterized by a growth form classified as both a herb and a forb, typically reaching a mean plant height of 0.6 m. It is a non-woody, terrestrial species that does not exhibit any climbing behavior, instead functioning as a self-supporting plant. As an independent organism, it lacks parasitic tendencies and grows in terrestrial environments rather than as an epiphyte or aquatic plant.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Solanum virginianum is characterized by specific metabolic and nutritional processes essential for its growth and development. Regarding its carbon assimilation, the plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. In terms of nutrient cycling, Solanum virginianum is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to meet its nitrogen requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Solanum virginianum is characterized by the production of small seeds that exhibit specific variations in mass. Analysis of the seed characteristics reveals a mean seed mass of approximately 0.00129666666666667 g. Within the population, there is a measurable range of seed sizes, with the minimum seed mass recorded at 0.00097 g and the maximum seed mass reaching 0.00182 g. These quantitative metrics define the physical parameters of the plant's propagules during its reproductive cycle.

Seed mass max:

0.00182 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00129666666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00097 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Solanum virginianum has 4 reported plant parts identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, seed, rhizome.

Fruit

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Parasitology research
3. Natural product research
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Zhongguo ji sheng chong xue yu ji sheng chong bing za zhi = Chinese journal of parasitology & parasitic diseases

Leaf

1. Parasitology research
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Natural product research

Seed

1. Scientific reports
2. Zhongguo ji sheng chong xue yu ji sheng chong bing za zhi = Chinese journal of parasitology & parasitic diseases

Rhizome

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Chemicals

Solanum virginianum has 35 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Solamargine, Solasonine, solasodine, triterpenoids, A2.

Solamargine

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of separation science
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Solasonine

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of separation science
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

solasodine

1. Scientific reports
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Fitoterapia

triterpenoids

1. Advances in pharmacological sciences
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

A2

1. Zhongguo ji sheng chong xue yu ji sheng chong bing za zhi = Chinese journal of parasitology & parasitic diseases

Alpha-solamargine

1. Zhongguo ji sheng chong xue yu ji sheng chong bing za zhi = Chinese journal of parasitology & parasitic diseases

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CHLOROPHYLL B

1. Scientific reports

Carotenoid

1. Scientific reports

Carpesterol

1. Natural product research

Activities

Solanum virginianum has 9 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Antimicrobial, Antiallergic, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
4. International journal of molecular sciences

Hepatoprotective

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Frontiers in microbiology
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiallergic

1. Anti-inflammatory & anti-allergy agents in medicinal chemistry

Anticancer

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antidiabetic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antispasmodic

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Cytoprotective

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Diuretic

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Medicinal Uses

Solanum virginianum has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include tuberculosis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations