INTRODUCTION:

Ayurveda is a long-established Indian Medicinal System proficient for thousands of years. Huge research on pharmacognosy, chemistry, pharmacology and clinical therapeutics has been carried out on ayurvedic medicinal plants Herbal medicines are being used by nearly about 80% of the world population, primarily in developing countries for primary health care. The current time-honored modern medicine or allopathy has gradually developed over the years by scientific and observational efforts of scientists. However, the basis of its development remains entrenched in traditional medicine and therapies. Selection of precise and organized approach for the biological evaluation of plant products based on their use in the traditional systems of medicine forms the basis for an ideal approach in the development of new drugs from plants. One such plant is Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum (SX) Schrad. and Wendl).

MORPHOLOGY: [3]

Habit and General Features:

Kantakari is a very prickly, low diffuse suffrutescent, perennial herb or under-shrub, with little stem, but having numerous irregularly ramous or trailing woody divaricated slightly triangular, flexuous branches that spread close to the ground, often rooting at the nodes and covering the circular area 2-4 feet in diameter. The whole plant is thick armed with strong broad based sharp compressed straight whitish or yellowish white prickles nearly half an inch long. The shoot when young are covered with stellate down but become barely glabrous when mature. They bear ovate or ovate-oblong sinuately lobed or pinnatifid sparsely pubescent to glabrescent prickly membranous leaves which are dark green above and considerably lighter or paler below.

Fig.1: Shrub of Solanum xanthocarpum Schard& Wend

Distribution and habitat:

The plant is found in all dry districts in the plain as well as low hills throughout India from Punjab and Assam to Cape Comorian. In South India it is found abundantly along the Coromandel Coast and in district of Tinnevelly and Kanyakumari. Every type of soil and situation which is not too moist seems to suit it, and it is commonly found growing as a weed of roadside and wastelands, on rubbish heaps and similar situation near villages. The plant is in flower and fruit throughout the year.

Macroscopic characteristics:

A) Roots:

The roots are long, fairly thick, hard and of light brown Color. The surface is not quite smooth being beset with many minute rootlets and a few lenticels. The thickness of the outer bark of the root is about 1/3rd the thickness of the central wood origin. The surface skin is quite thin and on scrapping a silvery white tissue is exposed. The wood is cream yellow and minutely porous. The entire root is bitter in taste.

Fig.2: Roots of Solanum xanthocarpum Schard& Wend

B) Stem:

Herbaceous, prickly with prominent nodes and internodes, green when fresh, young branches, covered with numerous hairs, mature ones glabrous, furrows more prominent in young stem appearing almost circular towards basal region, stem pieces 8-10 mm thick of variable length, external surface light green, when dry, surface yellowish green and smooth, transversely smoothened surface shows a very thin bark and prominent wood, centre shows a large and distinct, pith, mature and dry stem often with hollow pith, fracture short to slightly fibrous.

Fig.3: Stems of Solanum xanthocarpum Schard& Wend

C) Leaves:

Petiolate, exstipulate, ovate-oblong or elliptic, sinuate or sub-pinnatifid, sub acute hairy, 4-12.5 cm long and 2-7.5 cm wide, green, veins and midrib full with sharp prickles, odour and taste not distinct.

Fig.4: Leaves of Solanum xanthocarpum Schard & Wend.

D) Flowers:

Ebracteate, pedicellate, bisexual, pentamerous, regular, complete, bright blue or bluish purple. Calyx-persistent, gamosepalous, tube short, globose, linear-lanceolate, acute, hairy, 0.5-1 .3 cm long and densely prickly.

Corolla-gamopetalous, lobes deltoid, acute, hairy, 1-2 cm long and purple in Color.

Stamens-5, epipetalous, basifixed.

Filaments-short 1-1.5 mm long, and anthers-oblong lanceolate, 0.7-0.8 cm long.

Ovary-superior, ovoid, glabrous, bilocular with axile placentation having numerous ovules.

Fig.5: Flowers of Solanum xanthocarpum Schard & Wend.

E) Fruit:

Berry globular, measuring 0.8-1 cm in diameter, surrounded by persistent calyx at base unripe fruits variegated with green and white strips, ripe fruit shows different yellow shades.

Fig.6: Fruit of Solanum xanthocarpum Schard & Wend.

F) Seed:

Circular, flat, numerous, embedded in a fleshy mesocarp about 0.2 cm in diameter, glabrous taste, bitter and acrid.

Fig.7: Seeds of Solanum xanthocarpum Schard and Wend.

Chemical constituents: [1, 4, 5]:

Plant contains alkaloids, sterols, saponins, flavonoids and their glycosides and also carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids etc. Steroidal alkaloid solasodine is the principal alkaloid. Fruit contain solasonine, solasodine, solamargine, betasolamargine, solanocarpine and solanocarpidine. Dry fruits contain traces of isochlorogenic, neochronogenic, chronogenic and caffeic acids. Petals yielded apigenin. Stamens gave quercetin diglycoside and sitosterol. Presence of coumarins, scopolin, scopoletin, esculin and esculetin from plant parts of S. xanthocarpum. Fruits have more alkaloids than other organs in the plant species and alkaloid productivity vary under different organic solvents. In addition to alkaloid content also determined the presence of flavonoids and saponin apart from the presence of tolerable level of heavy metals like Cu, Fe, Pb, Cd and Zn.

Figure8: Structures of some phytoconstituents isolated from Solanum xanthocarpum

Traditional uses: [2, 4, 9, 11, 13]:

In Ayurveda, Kantakari plant is described as pungent, bitter, digestive, alternative astringent. Stems, flowers, fruits are bitter, carminative. Root decoction used as febrifuge, effective diuretic and expectorant. Charaka and Sushruta used the extract of entire plant and fruits in internal prescription for bro t nchial asthma, tympanitis, misperistalsis, piles and dysuria and for rejuvenation. Kantkari Ghrita of Charaka is specific for cough and asthma.Linctuses prepared from the stamens of flowers is prescribed for chronic cough in childre. The whole plant is used traditionally for curing various ailments. Decoction of the plant is used in gonorrhea; paste of leaves is applied to relieve pains; seeds act as expectorant in cough and asthma; roots are expectorant and diuretic, useful in the treatment of catarrhal fever, coughs, asthma and chest pain. The plant is also known to have pest repellent properties and used as a contact poison and mollusicide. Roots are one of the constituents of well known Ayurvedic preparation “Dasmul Asava” and used as an expectorant, cough, asthma, and chest pain.Fruits are edible and used by the local people as folk medicines in treating throat infections and other inflammatory problems. The stem, flowers and fruits are prescribed for relief in burning sensation in the feet accompanied by vesicular eruptions. The antispasmodic, antitumor, cardiotonic, hypotensive, antianaphylactic and cytotoxic activities are also reported. Fruit juice is useful in sore throats and rheumatism. The fruits are eaten as an anthelmintic and for indigestion.

Nasal administration of this herb is useful in reducing migraine and headache. The fumigation of the plant is helpful in piles. The decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of gonorrhea. The plant extract possesses antipyretic, anthelmintic, carminative, stomachic, febrifuge, laxative, rejuvenating and aphrodisiac properties apart from promoting conception. Roots of this plant are used in an ayurvedic tonic for lactating mothers.

Pharmacological actions:

1) Antifungal Activity:[5,10]:

S. Gaherwal, et al was reportated the antifungal activity of Solanum xanthocarpum (Kantkari) against Aspergillus niger and Candidaalbicans was assessed (tested) on the basis of AgarWell-diffusion method in PDA media and Growth inhibition in PDB media with Distil water and Hexanic extract of Solanum xanthocarpum leaf.

2) Antiasthmatic properties:[2,15,17]:

Bronchial asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by various airway obstruction, airway eosinophilic inflammation and bronchial hyper responsiveness and is a global health problem that results from a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Among several respiratory diseases affecting man, bronchial asthma is the most common disabling syndrome. Nearly 7–10% of the world population suffers from bronchial asthma. A pilot study on the clinical efficacy of Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad and Wendl and Solanum trilobatum in bronchial asthma were undertaken to prove the significant use of herbs in treatment of asthma. It is evaluated that the therapeutic effect of ethanolic extract of Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad & Wendl i.e. asthma relieving or antihistaminic, antiallergic property. Mast cell stabilization as compared to standard drug Disodium chromoglycate (DSCG). Solanum xanthocarpum is widely used by practitioners of the Siddha system of medicine in southern India to treat respiratory diseases. The powder of whole dried plant or a decoction is used for this purpose. Govindan et al. (1999) showed that treatment with Solanum xanthocarpum improved the pulmonary functions to a significant level in patients suffering from mild to moderate asthma. Subjective relief from asthmatic symptoms was reported by the patients an hour after administration of Solanum xanthocarpum powder. The effect lasted for about 6–8 h. However, responses observed were apparently less when compared to that of deriphilline or salbutamol. A decrease in forced expiration volume and peak expiration flow rates are indicative of both large and small airway obstruction and muscle power.The dose of Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad & Wendl was well tolerated and no untoward effects were reported. It was suggested that relief from the symptoms of bronchial asthma produced by Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad and Wendl may be due to: (a) a bronchodilator effect, (b) reduction in the bronchial mucosal edema (c) reduction in the secretions within the airway lumen.

3) Anti-Fertility activity: [1,5,16]:

Solasodine, an alkaloid of Solanum xanthocarpum possesses antispermatogenic activity. In Dixit VP 1980 study, chronic administration of solasodine (20mg/kg each other day oral for 60 days) rendered male rats and dogs infertile. Mating test showed 87% infertility in rats, this returned to normal after 60 days cessation of drug feeding. Solasodine is well tolerated and inhibits spermatogenesis and Sperm motility.No significant change was noticed in the weight of testes and accessory sex organs. The RNA, protein, sialic acidand glycogen contents of the test were reduced significantly, serum proteins, triglycerides, Serum enzymes (GOT/GPT /Alkaline phosphatase) nonesterified fatty acids levels were in normal range. Solasodine is estrogen free but inhibits testosterone release from dispersed mouse Leydig cells (200 uM significantly inhibited unstimulated and LH stimulated release). Solasodine can be developed as male pill of plant origin.

4) Hypoglycemic activity:[1,2,13]:

The aqueous extract of Solanum xanthocarpum showed significant hypoglycemic effect in both normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats at dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg. The activity showed by aqueous extract was comparable to that of standard oral hypoglycemic agent glibenclamide. The experimental results indicated that it exhibited a potent blood glucose lowering property both in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The LD50 of the extract was found to be high indicating high margin of safety.

5) Anti-inflammation activity:[1,5,7,8,14]:

Solasodine isolated from Solanum trilobatum has been examined for anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic inflammatory animal models. Solasodine exerted statistically significant and dose-dependent antiinflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema. Topical application of solasodine significantly inhibited the ear inflammation induced by multiple applications of tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate. The alkaloid produced a significant increase in the reaction time in the hot plate test. LPS-stimulated macrophage as a model of inflammation was used to investigate the antiinflammatory effects of tomatidine and solasodine whereby it was found that tomatidine exhibited a more potent anti-inflammatory effect than solasodine in the tested concentration.

6) Antifilarial effect:[1,2]:

Lalit Mohan et al. reported the larvicidal potential of crude extracts of Solanum xanthocarpum and suggested its suitability as an ecofriendly, effective larvicide in the management of mosquito populations and in limiting the outbreak of various vector borne epidemics.

7) Anthelmintic activity:[6]:

Gunaselvi.G.et al confirmed anthelmintic activity of fruity extract of Solanum xanthocarpum plant .water as well as ethanolic extraxt of Solanum xanthocarpum fruit were used for study.

8) Antibacterial activity:[8,12]:

Methanolic as well as acetone leaf extracts of Solanum xanthocarpum were quite effective in inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus which is a serious human pathogen causing infections in wounds. Possible reasons for this antibacterial activity of Solanum xanthocarpum are presence of alkaloids, phenolics and flavanoids in its leaves.

CONCLUSION:

Solanum xanthocarpum is non-toxic and safe for human use and is regarded as a valuable plant in both Ayurvedic and modern drug development areas for its versatile medicinal uses. The plant is widely studied for the various pharmacological activities like antiasthmatic, antifungal, antibacterial, anthelmintic, hypoglycemic and mosquito repellent properties. Further studies of use of various analytical technics for detection and isolation other phytochemical compounds and their therapeutic applications will possibly lead to journeying of new method for industrial application.

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Received on 06.07.2018 Modified on 13.07.2018

Asian J. Res. Pharm. Sci. 2018; 8(3):140-144.

DOI: 10.5958/2231-5659.2018.00025.5