28/08/2024
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Family • Solanaceae
Talong-talongan
Solanum incanum L.
BITTER APPLE
Huang shui qie
Scientific names Common names
Solanum bojeru Dunal Balbalusan (Ilk.)
Solanum incanum L. Malvalusa (Ibn.)
Solanum sanctum L. Tabulak (Bang.)
Tabulali (Pang.)
Taling-taling (Yak.)
Talong-taloñgan (Tag.)
Tarambulo (Tag.)
Tarong-ti-aso (Tag.)
Tarongbulongi-aso (Tag.)
Vahusa (Iv.)
Bitter apple (Engl.)
Bitter garden egg (Engl.)
Bitter tomato (Engl.)
Grey bitter apple (Engl.)
Nightshade (Engl.)
Sodom's apple (Engl.)
Thorn apple (Engl.)
Talong-talongan (balbalusan, Solanum cumingii) shares common names with tandang-aso (talong-talongan. balbalusa, Solanum torvum).
Some compilations list Solanum melongena (talong) and Solanum cumingii (talong-talongan) as synonyms. Quisumbing's compilation lists them as separate species.
Solanum sanctum L. (talong) is a synonym of Solanum incanum L. (The Plant List)
Solanum incanum L. is an accepted name. (The Plant List)
Other vernacular names
ARABIC: Mazg, Mazi.
AYURVEDA: Velvazhuthina.
CHINESE: Huang shui que.
EAST AFRICA: Entengotengo, Mutongu, Mtula, Mtunguja mwitu, Ochok, Omoratora.
FRENCH: Aubergine sauvage, Pomme de Sodome.
KENYA: Mutungu.
SOUTH AFRICA: Gifappel, Grysbitter-appel, Dinjinsa, Morola, Thola.
Botany
Talong-talongan is an ascending or spreading w**d, somewhat branched, hairy herb, 30 to 60 centimeters in height. Stems, petioles, and leaves are armed with scattered, sharp, rather stout spines, 3 to 6 millimeters in length. Leaves are oblong-ovate, 4 to 12 centimeters long, pointed at the tip, inequilateral at the base, with irregularly undulate-lobed margins. Flowers, 1 to 5, are borne in racemes in the axils of leaves. Calyx is green, with a slightly spiny tube. Corolla is violet or purplish, rotate, and shallowly 5 -lobed, about 2 centimeters in diameter.
Distribution
- Found in waste places throughout the Philippines at low and medium altitudes.
Constituents
- Fruit yields solanine and related glycoalkaloids.
- Phytochemical screening yields crude protein, lipids, crude fiber, flavonoids, saponins, and oxalate.
- A rich source of mineral elements, sodium and zinc being the most abundant.
- Methanol extract of roots yielded alkaloids, polyphenols, flavonoids, glycosides, phytosterols, saponins, triterpenes, tannins, and steroids. (15)
- Phytochemical screening of roots yielded alkaloids, polyphenols, flavonoids, glycosides, phytosterols, saponins, triterpene, tannins and steroids. (16)
- Some phytochemicals isolated from S. incanum are Incanumine, solasodine, carpesterol, ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol, khasianine, adenosine, kaempferol 3-O-b-D glucopyranosyl, quercetin3-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl, kaempferol, chlorogenic acid, benzyl O-b-D-xylopyranosyl, quercetin, astragalin, isoquercitrin, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, baicalin, solasonine, solamargine, diosgenin, yamogenin, dimethylnitrosamine, vitamin B2, among others. (19)
- Mineral analysis of Solanum incanum fruits yielded a moisture content of 91.40%, crude fiber 7.10%. Other parameters yielded ash 21.20%, crude lipid 12.50%, crude protein 7.80%, carbohydrate 51.74%, and 308.90 kcal of energy. (22)
- Mineral analysis of fruits yielded (mg/100g) phosphorus 1082.50 mg, magnesium 38.99 mg, potassium 215.45 mg, manganese 147.00 mg, copper 256.05 mg, sodium 147.00 mg, iron 325.75 mg, calcium 15.00 mg, ascorbic acid 6.28 mg. (22)
- Phytochemical screening of fruits yielded alkaloids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, oxalates, and cyanogenic glycosides. (22)
- Study of aerial parts yielded 16 nonsteroidal constituents viz. ten flavonoids (1-10), chlorogenic acid (11), adenosine (12), benzyl-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (13), and three phenylalkanoic acids (14-16). (26)
- Phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract of leaves (L), stem (S), roots (R) and fruit (F) yielded alkaloids, flavanoids, saponins (SRF), phenols, polyphenols (SR), phytosterols with anoids (SRF), glycosides (RF), triterpenoids, tannins (LS), carbohydrates (R), steroids (LSR), with absence of anthraquinones. Maximum amount of phytochemicals and phytonutrients (Na, Al, Mg, Mn, P, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn) was recorded in fruit compared to leaves, stem, and root. (32)
- Qualitative phytochemical screening of fruit yielded alkaloids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, oxalates, and cyanogenic glycosides, with absence of anthraquinone. Proximate analysis (%) of fruit yielded moisture 91.40 ± 0.56, ash 21.20 ± 0.42, crude fat 12.50 ± 0.07, crude protein 7.80 ± 0.21, crude fiber 7.10 ± 0.38, carbohydrate 51.74 ± 0.32, and estimated calorific value 308.90 kcal. Mineral analysis yielded (mg/100g) phosphorus 1082.5 ±3/35, magnesium 38.99 ± 0.01, potassium 215.45 ± 0.63, manganese 147.00 ± 0.01, copper 256.05 ± 1.23, sodium 147.00 ± 0.42, iron 325.75 ± 0.32, calcium 15.00 ± 0.03, and ascorbic acid 6.28 ± 0.01. (35)
- Analysis of leaves showed very high protein content equal to 44.96% of total composition. Potassium was highest element at 1910 mg/kg and calcium in second with 668 mg/kg. (41)
- Phytochemical screening of extracts of fruit, leaves, and stem showed a source of alkoloids, saponines, flavanoids, glycosides, terpenoids, and steroids. (see study below) (44)
- Study of fruit for phytoconstituents isolated nine compounds, including three steroidal glycoalkaloids (1-3), two neolignans (4-5), two simple phenolics (6-7), one monoterpene glycoside (8), and one coumarin glucoside (9). (46)
- Proximate analysis of fruit reveled the presence of crude fiber, carbohydrate, and crude protein while elemental analysis yielded magnesium, calcium, and sodium. The fruit yielded saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardenolide, glycosides, reducing sugars, and phenolics. (see study below) (54)
Properties
- Leaf poultice resolvent.
- Seeds are sedating.
- Fruit is bitter, reducing its palatability, and may be due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides.
- Studies have shown antinociceptive, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmolytic, hypoglycemic, antibacterial, anti-schistosomal, anti-melanoma, acaricidal, anti-malarial, anti-protozoal, wound healing, glucose-lowering, and anticancer activities.
- Behavior and memory-enhancing, larvicidal, antiulcerogenic, antioxidant properties.
Parts utilized
Leaves, fruit, seeds.
Uses
Edibility
- Unripe fruit eaten raw or cooked.
- In Africa, fruit is used as a vegetable. Its bitter taste reduces its palatability. Salting and rinsing the preboiled fruit can soften and remove some of its bitterness.
- Leaves used as flavoring in soups.
- Fruit and seed used to curdle milk and to make cheese. (11) (12)
Folkloric
· Seeds used as sedative; also used for toothaches.
· For toothaches, root infusion used as mouthwash; also roots or fruits rubbed on gums.
· Poultice of leaves are mitigating and resolvent; used for swelling and inflammation.
· Leaf paste, root infusions and pounded fruits applied to scarifications. (11)
· Mixture of ash of burned leaves and salt licked to suppress hiccups. Maceration of leaves used for ophthalmia. Fruit sap used for conjunctivitis. Decoction of roots drunk for snakebites. (11)
· In Kenya, fruits used for treatment of cutaneous mycotic conditions. Roots used for fever, wounds, toothache and stomach aches.
· In Ethiopia, roots used for amoebic dysentery; as vermifuge, anti-protozoal and antifungal.
· Used in treatment of venereal diseases.
· In eastern and southern Africa used as remedy for abdominal pains, dyspepsia, fever, stomachache, and indigestion. Also used for warts, snakebite wound, ringworm.
- In Kenya, stem or fruits cut into small pieces, sun-dried, pounded and powdered, and applied to snake bites. Sap of fruit also applied directly to snake bites. (42)
Others
· Soap / Tanning: Boiled fruits used as soap and in tanning leather. (Protabase: Plant resources of Tropical Asia) (11) (12)
· Veterinary: In African veterinary medicine, fruit juice instilled into sheep's nostrils as cure for cough. (13)
· Acaricidal: : Study showed that Solanum incanum possess some acaricidal effect against cattle ticks. (see study below) (39)
Studies
• Antibacterial / Fruits: Study of berries isolated an antimicrobial substance with phosphorylated structure similar to purine adenine isolated from the berries. The crystals showed to be effective inhibitors of the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, dermatophytes and some pathogens of agricultural produce. (1)
• Hypoglycemic: Study of three vegetables (Solanum incanum, V amygdalina and G latifolium) showed significant reductions of blood glucose levels at most post-prandial points. The bioactive antioxidant substances naturally occurring in stems, roots and leaves may possess an insulin-like effect. The rich NSP content of Solanum incanum is also likely to be a reducing factor. (2)
• Unripe Fruit Toxicity / Veterinary Study: Study on ripe fruits of S incanum showed no toxicity effect in sheep and goats. Unripe fruits, however, showed toxicity, more in sheep than in goat, the goats probably having a way of reducing the toxic effects of the unripe fruits. (3)
• Anti-Malarial: In a study of nine Ethiopian plants for anti-malarial activity, S incanum exhibited moderate activity. (4)
• Solamargine / Anti-Lung Cancer: Solamargine has be found to be a powerful cytotoxic agent in four human lung cancer cell lines through SM-induced apoptosis of cells. SM was also found to increase the binding activities of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta to lung cancer cells. (5)
• Solamargine / Anti-Cancer: Solamargine (SM), a steroidal glycoalkaloid, has been isolated from the Chinese herb Solanum incanum, and has shown inhibition in the growth of some cancer cell lines and induced significant apoptosis. Study showed SM effectively triggers apoptosis in MDR (multidrug resistant) tumor cells, which is associated with actin disruption and downregulation of MDR1 expression. (7)
• Immunological Effects / Antischistosomal Effects: Study evaluated the effectiveness of Solanum incanum and Carica papaya extract as possible antischistosomal agents. In Swiss mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae, both extracts had immunological effects. However, S. incanum extracts had the greatest effect on worm reduction, worm recovery and IgG specific immunological responses compared to C. papaya. (7)
• Antinociceptive / Antipyretic: Study of root extract showed significant antipyretic effect and significant antinociceptive activity. Results support the folkloric use of root extracts for pain and fever. (8)
• Antinociceptive / Anti-Inflammatory / Roots: Study evaluated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of a dichlormethane extract root extract of Solanum incanum. Results showed both acute anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. The anti-inflammatory effect may involve inhibition of edema formation and leukocyte migration while the analgesic effect may be partly due to inhibition of stimulation of nociceptors as well as anti-inflammatory and neurogenic effects. (13)
• Acute Toxicity Study / Fruit: Study evaluated the acute toxicity profile of ethanolic extract of fruit of Solanum incanum in female mice. Results suggest safety in oral administration—the highest dose administered was 2000 mg/kbw without producing mortality or changes in general behavior of the test animals. (14)
• Acute, Sub-Acute and Chronic Toxicity Study / Toxic to Sheep / Fruit: Study evaluated the toxicity of unripe fruits of Solanum incanum in sheep at doses varying from 1,200 mg to 3,600 mg/day for 9 weeks. Clinical signs started on day 2 with bloating. Manifestations of cerebellar hyperplasia were noted in groups 2, 3, and 4. Mortality rate was 25% in group 2, and 100% for groups 3 and 4. Histopath showed necrosis of cerebellar Purkinje cells and Wallerian degeneration of neurons, renal tubular and hepatocyte necrosis, among others. Results indicate S. incanum to be highly toxic to sheep and grazing should be prevented. (17)
• Anti-Schistosomal Effects / Roots: Study evaluated the the antischistosomal activity of Solanum incanum roots and Carica papaya seed extracts in BALB/c mice infected with S. mansoni. S. incanum showed effects close to the drug of choice PZQ (Praziquantel), greatly reducing the number of worms which is crucial in schistosomes infection. Study verified the ethnic use of seeds of C. papaya and roots of S. incanum. Results form a strong basis for potential anti-schistosomal agents. (17)
• Antioxidant / Fruits: Study evaluated the antioxidant and total phenol and total flavonoid content of two fruits, Solanum anguvi and solanum incanum, by DPPH free radical scavenging activity, reducing power, iron chelation, anti-lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide scavenging activity. Solanum incanum showed higher antioxidant activity, with significant correlations between free radical scavenging capacity and TFC, indicating the flavonol group of metabolites as chief performers of antioxidant activity. (18) Antioxidant study of aqueous and ethanol fruit extracts of the S. incanum showed EC50 values for DPPH radicals of 0.02488 and 0.1000 mg/ml, respectively. The aqueous fruit extract may contain more antioxidant compounds than the ethanol extract. (see constituents above) ((54)
• Spasmolytic / Roots: Study evaluated the spasmolytic activity of aqueous extract of roots of S. incanum on contractions of isolated guinea pig ileum, induced by acetylcholine, and compared with the effect of atropine. The extract inhibited the response to acetylcholine in a concentration-dependent manner similar to atropine. The extract also inhibited charcoal travel in mice intestine. (Assefa et al. 2006) (19)
• Variations in Cytotoxic Glycoalkaloids / Solamargine and Solasonine: Solanum incanum is a rich source of important cytotoxic glycoalkaloids, such as solamargine and solasonine, and a potential source of compound for steroid synthesis. Study highlights the importance of developmental stages of particular organs and the overall age of the plant when harvesting these GAs from S. incanum plants. (20)
• Acaricidal / Cattle Ticks / Fruits: Study evaluated the efficacy of Solanum incanum and Strychnos spinosa aqueous fruit extracts against cattle ticks in on-station experiments and laboratory tick bioassays. Treatments were applied as surface sprays (5, 10 and 20% w/v). A 5% Solanum incanum treatment showed higher efficacy ration (p
