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| Departments » Herbal Medicine » Materia Medica » Solanum nigrum |
Note - the monographs are provided for informational purposes only, and are not to be used for self-medication.
Solanum nigrum (Black Nightshade)
| Botanic Name | Solanum nigrum |
| Common Name | Black Nightshade, Petty Morel, poisonberry, garden nightshade |
| Family | Solanaceae |
| Habitat | Found in all states of Australia in waste areas and damp shady spots (Bushell). Sometimes called garden nightshade because it appears so often in cultivated grounds. (Grieve) |
| Description | It is a brittle-stemmed weed that grows up to a metre tall. It has ovate leaves, tiny white star shaped flowers, and small round black berries that are green when unripe (RD). |
| Similar Plants | Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade which is uncommon in Australia) |
| Parts Used | The whole
plant, gathered in early autumn, when in both flower and fruit and
dried. Also the fresh leaves. (Grieve)
Green berries are recommended for herpes simplex (Bushell) Leaves can be used as a poultice for ulcers or skin conditions (Bushell) |
| History | In Bohemia
the leaves are placed in the cradles of infants to promote sleep (Grieve)
In the islands of Bourbon and Mauritius the leaves are eaten in place of spinach; and the fruit is said to be eaten ‘without inconvenience’ by soldiers stationed in Kaffraria (Grieve) |
| Constituents | The green berries and leaves contain glyco-alkoloids including solasodine (Bushell) |
| Actions | Diaphoretic
(Lust)
Purgative (Lust) Narcotic (Lust) Poison (Grieve) Sudorific (Grieve) Anti-inflammatory (topical) (Grieve) |
| Applications | As an
ointment for abscesses, sores, and in a douche for leucorrhoea,
eczema, nappy rash, and wounds. (Bushell)
Cold sores (Bushell) |
| Dosage | Topical use only (Bushell) |
| Combinations | With Mellisa & Hypericum for herpes cream |
| C/I Cautions | Use externally only – internal use too risky (Bushell) |
| BHP S/I |