Kantkari

Botanical Name – Solanum surattense Burm.f

Family – Solanaceae

Common names –

English – Yellow-berried night shade

Hindi – Choti kateri

Sanskrit – Kantkari

Parts used – Whole plant

Distribution

Plant is widely distributed throughout India in dry situation as weed ascending to 1500 meters on the Himalaya, abundant by roadsides and wastelands, mainly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana .

Species are distributed from temperate to tropical regions and from sea level altitudes over 3500 metres, widely distributed throughout the world, and one or more members of the complex probably occur in every nation from Finland in the Northern hemisphere to New Zealand in the Southern hemisphere.

Chemical constituents

Fruits contains Solasonine, Solamargine, β-solamargine, Solasodine, Solanocarpine, Carpesterol, Solanocarpidine, Potassium nitrate, Fatty acid, Diosgenin, Sitosterol, Isochlorogenic acid, Neochronogenic acid, Chronogenic acid, Caffeic acid, Quercetin, Apigenin, Histamine, Acetylcholine

Petals yielded Apigenin , Stamens have Quercetin diglycoside and Sitosterol

Roots of Solanum surattense possess Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Triterpenoids, Tannins, Saponins, Glycosides, Steroids, Diosgenin

Dry seeds consists of greenish yellow oil rich in fatty acids—Linoleic acid, Oleic acid, Palmitic, Steric and Arachidonic acid.

Uses

Antioxidant activity

It possess anti-oxidant potential due to rich phytochemical constituents like Phenols and Flavonoids. The leaf contains high quantity of phenols and flavonoid than the stem and fruits. S. surattense leaf extracts against 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl shows scavenging activity. Fruit extracts also reported to possess appreciable amount of radical scavenging activity (about 80%) S. surattense fruits & leaf extracts enhances the level of anti-oxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), and Glutathione (GSH) Peroxidase. Remarkable anti-oxidant potentiality of S. surattense leaf extracts might be attributed to the presence of phenolic and flavonoids compounds in high quantity.

Anti-inflammatory activity

Fruits of S. Surattense are used as anti-inflammatory agents in the traditional medicine. Isolated steroidal compounds from S. surattense, Stigmasterol, Carpesterol, and Diosgenin also reported to possess anti-inflammatory activity. Among the three, Diosgenin found to possess remarkable anti-inflammatory efficiency. Kantakari helps to reduce bone and joint pain when applied to the affected area. Applying a paste of Kantakari powder helps to reduce joint pain by balancing Vata, due to its Ushna (hot) potency.

Hepatoprotective activity

Solanum surattense fruits are used as a traditional medicine to treat the disorders of the liver. Hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) resulted the necrosis of hepatic cells and administration of the fruit extract shows a significant effect on lowering the serum marker enzymes AST, ALT and ALP. It’s extracts offers the hepatic protection, by reducing the oxidative stress. It helps to regenerate new cells and ensures proper functioning of liver.

Read Also: Sarpankha

Antidiabetic activity

Leaf extracts of S. surattense effectively lowers the blood glucose levels and increased the level of insulin . β-Sitosterol, a phytosterol from S. surattense was reported to possess anti-diabetic properties.

Effect on Respiratory System

Kantkari helps to remove the excess mucus build up in the respiratory tract. Anti-asthmatic efficiency studies on S. surattense flower extracts revealed that the presence of anti-histamine and mast cell stabilizing efficiency. It helps in clearing catarrh and phlegm in the bronchial tubes thereby freeing the respiratory system with related disorders. Thereby it works like any other antibiotic expectorants by clearing the passage to the lungs. Apart from reducing the mucus production and buildup, Kantakari also reduces the pain and swelling of the tract.  Kantakari works as a bronchodilator, on consumption it helps in dilating the bronchioles. Dilated bronchioles suppress Asthma symptoms like breathlessness and chest congestion.

Digestive system –

It is well known that the herb proves to be extremely beneficial in case of digestive system issues. Kantakari has anti-helminthic properties, it destroys the intestinal worms and also suppress the symptoms caused due to worm infestation like vomiting, loss of appetite and indigestion. Kantakari powder helps to improve Agni (digestive fire) and helps to digest food easily, due to its Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestive) properties.