Common Name:

General Information

Solanum trilobatum is a thorny, much-branched, straggling shrub or climbing plant with stems that are usually slightly woody at the base[, ].
The plant is a fairly popular medicine, especially in India, where it is often harvested from the wild for local use. It is also used locally as a food and is sold as a green vegetable in local markets[]..

Known Hazards

Although providing many well-known foods for people, including the potato, tomato, pepper and aubergine, most species in this genus also contain toxic alkaloids. Whilst these alkaloids can make the plant useful in treaing a range of medical conditions, they can also cause problems such as nausea, vomiting, salivation, drowsiness, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weakness and respiratory depression[].
Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[].

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia.

Habitat

Tidal swamps and as a weed in gardens and waste ground[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is often found as a garden weed within its native range[].
Plants can flower all year round[].

Edible Uses

The fruit is edible[]. The purple to blackish fruit is about 1cm in diameter[].

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

The bitter roots and young shoots have been given in the form of an electuary, a decoction or a powder for consumption. The medicine is mainly used for asthma, chronic febrile affections and difficult parturition[, ].

The plant is antibacterial, antifungal, antimitotic, antioxidant and antitumouour[]. It is used in the treatment of asthma; vomiting of blood; rheumatism; several kinds of leprosy; to help reduce blood glucose levels, bilious matter and phlegm[].
The leaf juice is drunk as a remedy for fever[].

The seeds are used as a vermifuge[].

Research has shown that the leaves contain Sugar, Protein, Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Saponins, Tannins, Cardiac glycoside, Terpenoids, Lipids[].
An extract of the leaves has shown good antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in trays in a nursery. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on fast. Plant them out when 10cm or more tall.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood. Very easy, the cuttings root within a couple of weeks.

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