African Nightshade

Parts Usually Used

The leaves, young shoots, and occasionally the roots, stems, and berries are used for medicinal purposes. Only the fully ripened berries should be consumed, and even then with caution.

Description of Plant(s) and Culture

African nightshade is an annual or short-lived perennial herb that grows erect and widely spreading, reaching up to 100-150 cm tall. The plant is unarmed with rounded or narrowly winged stems that may be glabrous or sparsely pubescent. The leaves are arranged spirally, sometimes almost opposite, and are rhomboid to ovate-lanceolate in shape, up to 22 cm long and 16 cm wide. The plant bears white flowers (sometimes flushed purple) with yellow-green stars at the base, arranged in extra-axillary, umbel-like cymes with 3-12 flowers.

The fruits are glossy, globose berries, 10-16 mm in diameter, and deeply purple to purplish-black when mature. African nightshade is cultivated through seeds and less commonly through cuttings. Seeds are either sown directly or in nurseries for later transplanting. Commercial cultivation typically involves the use of nurseries, with transplanting occurring 4-6 weeks after sowing when seedlings have 5-6 true leaves.

5. It grows optimally at temperatures between 20-30°C and requires at least 500 mm of rainfall during the growing season.

Where Found

African nightshade is native to and widely cultivated across Africa, particularly from Liberia to Ethiopia and south to Mozambique and South Africa. It is especially common in both lowland and highland regions of West and East Africa. Its wide diversity in Nigeria and Cameroon suggests its origins lie in the warm humid forest belt of West and Central Africa. Outside of Africa, Solanum scabrum can be found in Europe, Asia (India, China, and the Philippines), Australia, New Zealand, North America, and the Caribbean.

It grows from sea level to well over 2000 meters in altitude.

Medicinal Properties

African nightshade possesses several important medicinal properties: Antioxidant: Rich in polyphenols, carotenoids, and chlorophylls that provide strong antioxidant activity against various free radicals Anti-genotoxic: Protects against DNA damage induced by carcinogens like aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) Anti-inflammatory: Contains compounds that reduce inflammation Anti-cancer/Chemopreventive: Shows potential in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells Hepatoprotective: Offers protection to liver cells Antimicrobial: Shows activity against certain bacteria and fungi Analgesic: Provides pain relief when applied topically Diuretic: Promotes urine production Febrifuge: Helps reduce fever Antiperiodic: Prevents the periodic return of diseases Antiphlogistic: Reduces inflammation and fever Emollient: Softens and soothes the skin Narcotic: Contains compounds with sedative properties Purgative: Stimulates bowel movements – **Sedative: Produces a calming effect

Biochemical Information

African nightshade contains a variety of bioactive compounds that contribute to its medicinal properties: 1. Polyphenols and Phenolic Compounds: Chlorogenic acid (caffeoylquinic acids) Coumaric acid Caffeic acid Sinapic acid Gallic acid Quercetin and its derivatives Kaempferol and its derivatives Catechins 2. Carotenoids: β-carotene Lutein Zeaxanthin 3. Chlorophylls: Chlorophyll a Chlorophyll b 4.

Other Compounds: Alkaloids (though in lower concentrations in the leaves compared to other Solanum species) Glycoalkaloids (solanine and solanidine in green fruits) Proteins (rich in methionine) Vitamins (especially A, C, and riboflavin) Minerals (calcium, iron, phosphorus) The concentration of these compounds varies depending on growing conditions, plant maturity, post-harvest storage, and processing methods.

Legends, Myths and Stories

African nightshade has long been used in traditional African medicine and cuisine. Although it belongs to the nightshade family, which includes many toxic plants, the cultivated African nightshade has been selectively bred to contain lower levels of toxic compounds. There has been much confusion in the literature about African nightshade (Solanum scabrum) and other species in the Solanum section.

In Africa, the name Solanum nigrum is often incorrectly applied to almost all species of section Solanum with blackish fruits, including Solanum scabrum. This confusion has likely been worsened by the use of similar vernacular names for different species.

Uses

Historically, herbalists utilized the plant for a variety of digestive complaints, including jaundice, while traditions in East Africa involved chewing and swallowing the raw fruit for stomach-aches. Practitioners also employed extracts of the plant for pain relief, particularly toothaches, and for general inflammation. Topical preparations of the leaves, stems, and roots were applied to wounds and conditions such as leucoderma.

Beyond medicinal contexts, the leaves and fresh shoots were widely cooked as a vegetable, commonly served alongside staples like corn fufu, plantains, sweet potatoes, yams, maize, or pounded cocoyams. This culinary tradition was prominent in Côte d’Ivoire, where the plant was known as fouet, as well as in Benin as ogomoh, Nigeria as ogunmo or odu, and Cameroon as osan or zom. Additionally, the plant served as agricultural fodder for cattle and goats, was cultivated as a commercial crop in several African nations, and provided dyes, with pigments from the leaves and purple-to-black fruits utilized for coloring and ink.

How Sold

African nightshade is sold in various forms: Fresh leaves and shoots in local markets Dried leaf powder (less common) Occasionally as part of herbal preparations and remedies Seeds for cultivation In commercial settings, the produce is tied in bundles and sent to markets, where traders split those bundles into smaller retail units.