Nightshade

Nightshade (Solanum) mnavu (Swahili), managu (Kikuyu), namaska(Luhya), osuga (Luo), kitulu (Kamba), nsugga (luganda).Nightshade is an erect, many-branched herb growing 0.5 to 1.0 m. high that is widely distributed throughout the tropics.

The plant bears this oval, slightly purplish leaves up to 15 cm in length, numerous white flowers and black, round berries about 0.75 cm in diameter containing many small, flattened, yellow seeds.

Plants are established on raised beds from seeds that are planted at a spacing of approximately 10 cm.

Solanum plays an important role in traditional medicine in Africa.

Large, tasty leaves is available from SACRED Africa, Bugoma, Western Kenya.

Nutritive Values of Nightshade

The leaves are eaten as a cooked vegetable, often mixed with other vegetables and the fresh fruit is also consumed.Click here to learn how to prepare and enjoy Night Shade

Some Solanum varieties are preferred for their bitter taste while others are considered "sweet", particularly after being boiled and the water discarded.

The raw leaves contain 4% protein, 6% carbohydrates and are moderately high in Vitamin A and C. They also contain high levels of magnesium and phosphorus but relatively low level of zinc.

Other minerals present are calcium and iron, fat and fiber as well as methionine, an amino acid that is scarce in other vegetables. On the other hand the berries contain high amounts of iron, calcium and Vitamin B and appreciable amounts of Vitamin C and carotene.

The content of ascorbic acid decreased with both an increase in cooking time and the level of water used for cooking. However it has been noted that nightshades accumulate anti nutrients, which lead to a reduction in the nutritive value of the leaves.

The anti nutrients are nitrates, oxalates and phenolics. Nitrates when consumed are converted to nitrites, which oxidize ferrous ions of the blood haemoglobin, resulting in reduced oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

Both the leaves and the seeds had a high amount of oxalate. However, initial processing such as cooking is known to significantly reduce total oxalate content of vegetables. This may therefore mitigate the potent adverse effect of consuming the plant. Polyphenols found in the leaves reduce blood pressure while saponins may prevent cancer.

Other Varieties found in East african regions include S.macrocarpon, S.scabrun, S. villosum.

Uses

African nightshades are spinach like vegetables that are not mucilaginous. The fresh leaves or young shots are used as vegetables. Often the vegetable used is called ‘spinach’. The water in which the vegetative parts have been boiled is discarded and replaced several times, or replaced with milk, to prevent ingestion of toxins.

This vegetable is bitter and so it is often mixed with other leafy green vegetables like Corchorus spp and Amaranthus spp.

Boiled leaves of the nightshade is recommended for pregnant women, since their consumption is belived to result in the birth of children with dark eyes and smooth skin.

Children eat the orange or red berries of S. villosum and also the purple fruit from ‘S. eldoretti’ is much appreciated.

Some people make a kind of jam out of these berries. However, it has been observed that the green berries are poisonous . The main organs affected by ingestion of these berries are the cardiovascular and central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract.

Medicinal Benefits

Unripe fruits are applied to aching teeth and squeezed onto babies’ gums to ease pain during teething. Infusions of leaves and seeds are rubbed onto the gums of children who have developed crooked teeth.

The raw fruit is chewed and swallowed for treatment of stomach ulcers or for general abdominal upsets. , The extracts of its fruits have anti-tumour and neuropharmacological properties and can be used as an antioxidant and cancer chemo preventive matter.

Leaves and fruits are pounded and the infusion used against tonsillitis.

A mixture of the leaves boiled with milk is believed to prevent muscular pains among old people or those suffering painful joints, especially those associated with arthritis or with malarial fever.

The same mixture is also believed to strengthen weak people and prevent skin eruptions. In the past it has been used as a sedative.