Common Name: Bitter Apple

General Information

Solanum incanum is an erect or spreading perennial plant. The stems can be herbaceous, in which case the plant grows 90 - 120cm tall, or they can become more or less woody, when the plant grows up to 3 metres tall and occasionally becomes a small tree[, ]. The stems and branches are armed with stout prickles[].
The plant is particularly valued in Africa for its pain-relieving properties and is widely used medicinally there. Selected forms of the plant are sometimes cultivated for their edible fruit in tropical Africa[].

Known Hazards

The wild form of the plant is toxic, though cultivars have been developed that are cultivated for their edible fruits and leaves[].
The fruits are used as an ingredient of arrow poisons and fish poisons.
All Solanum species contain greater or lesser quantities of spirosolane alkaloids, including solanine and solanidine. These are bitter tasting and potentially poisonous when consumed frequently[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical and subtropical Africa - Senegal to Sudan and Somalia, south to S. Africa..

Habitat

Mainly as a weed of cultivation, around old habitations and overgrazed grassland, also extending into forest edges, riverine vegetation, various types of woodland, thickets, littoral scrub, floodplains, stream-banks, from sea level to 2,438 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 26°c, but can tolerate 10 - 30°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 250 - 2,000mm[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Plants are tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, but grow best in fertile, humus-rich conditions[]. Tolerates moderate levels of salt in the soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 6 - 8[]. Plants are relatively drought tolerant once established[].
There are reports that the plant can become a weed[].
The first harvest is usually ready about 3 - 4 months from sowing the seed and can continue for a year[].
Selection for larger, less toxic fruits and leaves has taken place over time and whereas the wild types produce small, bitter and toxic fruits, cultivated types are available, especially in West Africa, of which the fruits and leaves can be safely eaten in soup and as a vegetable[].
There are two main forms of this plant grown in Africa, one has a bitter taste (probably the wild plant) whilst the other is sweet (probably due to selection over time)[, , ].
Probably a wild form of the cultivated aubergine, S. Melongena[].

Edible Uses

The green, unripe fruit is eaten raw or cooked[301. Whilst occasionally eaten raw, it is more often cooked as a seasoning in soups etc[]. The fruit is up to 6cm in diameter and weighs around 70g[]. Care needs to be taken that only the improved varieties, with lower levels of alkaloids, are used for food[].

Leaves[]. They are added to soup to improve the flavour[]. Care needs to be taken that only the improved varieties, with lower levels of alkaloids, are used for food[].

The fruit and the seed are used to curdle milk and to make cheese[].

Medicinal

The plant is especially valued for its analgesic properties and it is commonly used in Africa to treat a wide range of conditions[]. All parts of the plant are used - usually the leaves, roots or fruits are used in decoction, or the roots are chewed or the sap swallowed[]. Conditions treated include a sore throat, angina, stomach-ache, colic, headache, painful menstruation, liver pain and pain caused by onchocerciasis, pleurisy, pneumonia and rheumatism[]
When used externally, the leaf paste, root infusions or the pounded fruits are rubbed into scarifications, the leaf sap is used for washing painful areas, and ash of burnt plants is mixed with fat and applied as an ointment[]. Conditions treated include skin infections, whitlow, ringworm, burns, sores, rashes, wounds, warts, carbuncles, ulcers and benign tumours[]
For the relief of toothache, a root infusion is used as mouth wash, the fruit or the root is rubbed on the gums or the smoke from burning seeds is inhaled[].
Hiccups are suppressed by licking a mixture of the ash of burned leaves and salt[].

Another widespread use of the plant is in the treatment of venereal diseases. For this purpose, the root powder is mixed with food or rubbed into scarifications; root infusions or decoctions are drunk; roasted, pulverized roots are taken in water; leaf decoctions and fruit sap are drunk; and the fruit sap is applied externally[].

A maceration of the leaves is used as an eye bath to cure ophthalmia[].

The fruit sap is rubbed into scarifications around the eye to treat conjunctivitis[].

The pounded seeds are mixed with pulped fruits to massage aching ears[].
The seeds of variety 'paniya' contain 3.8 - 4.8% of a glyco-alkaloid that is used in the synthesis of cortisone[].

Extracts of the leaves or flowers are used as ear drops to cure inflammations[].

In order to treat snakebites, a decoction of the roots is drunk; the roots are chewed and the sap swallowed; whilst young chewed leaves or pulped fresh roots are applied externally to the bite wound[].

Other Uses

The boiled fruits are used as soap and in tanning leather[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a seedbed or containers. Plant out into their permanent positions when about 6 - 8cm tall[].

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