Origin, Distribution and Composition
Kantakari, also known as Indian Solanum, is a prickly, branches-perennial herb. The branches are densely covered with minute star-shaped hairs. The plant has yellow, shining prickles of about 1.5 cm in size, it has very prickly, sparsely hairy, egg-shaped leaves; purple flowers, round fruits, yelloVv in colour with green veins and numerous smooth seeds. The fruit of the plant, constitutes the
drug.
Kantakari is indigenous to India. The plant occurs throughout India, often in waste lands, on roadsides and in open
scrublands.
The fruit of the plant yields carpesteral, glucoside-alkaloids and solanocarpine. It also yields glucoside-alkaloids, solamine-S. On hydrolysis it yields alkaloid solanidine-S.
Healing Power and Curative Properties
The root is one of the important
medicinal ingredients used by the physicians of
Ayurveda, who use it to treat several common ailments. The
drug is bitter in taste and a mild purgative. Experiments have shown that the fruits and shoots of the plant possess antibacterial properties.
Respiratory Disorders
Kantakari is useful in clearing catarrh and phelgm from the bronchial tubes. It is therefore used in the treatment of respiratory
diseases like
asthma, bronchitis and cough.
Stomach Disorders
The herb can be used to treat
constipation and
flatulence. It strengthens the
stomach and promotes its action. It corrects disordered processes of nutrition by which the organism ingests, digests, absorbs, utilises and excretes food substances and restores normal function of the system. The drug also possesses anthelminitic (worm destroying) property and is useful in eliminating intestinal worms.
Dropsy
Kantakari is useful in the treatment of dropsy, a disease marked by an excessive collection of-a fluids in the tissues and cavities or natural hollows of the body. The
drug helps increase the secretion and discharge of urine.
Throat Disorders
The herb is especially useful in throat disorders like sore throat and tonsilitis. An extract of the plant should be used as a gargle in such cases. This is prepared by continuously boiling the plant in about 2 litres of water after washing it thoroughly, till it reduces to half its volume and it should be filtered.
Gum Diseases
The extract of the plant, prepared as for throat disorders, is also very useful in gum
disease. For better results, black mustard should be boiled along with the plant.
Snake Bites
The root of the plant has been traditionally used in snake and scorpion bites. A paste of the root .can be prepared by grinding it on a stone with lemon juice and applying to the affected part. The patient should be taken to the doctor immediately.
Other
Disease
The drug is also useful in treating several other
diseases like
heart disease ,
chest pain, certain types of
fever, muscular pains, gonorrhoea, dysuria, enlargement of the liver and spleen and stone in the urinary bladder. The fruit of the plant is also considered useful in treating
sore throat, bronchitis, muscular pains and
fevers.
Dosages
The herb can be used either in the form of confection, decoction or juice. The decoction is taken in doses of 15 ml to 60 ml. The juice is taken in doses ranging from 2 ml to 8 ml.
Other Uses
Tender leaves and fruits are eaten as a vegetable after cooking.