The black nightshade is a native of West Africa but is now grown all over the India as well.
An analysis of black nightshade or mannathakali leaves shows them to consist of moisture 82.1 per cent, protein 5.9 per cent fat 1.0 per cent, minerals 2.1 per cent and carbohydrates 8.9 per cent per 100 grams. The minerals presents include calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin and vitamin C. it calorific value is 68.
The plant and the fruit contain toxic alkaloid solanin and saponin. Feeding experiments on sheep for toxicity, however showed negative results.
Healing Power
The black nightshade is used as an important ingredient in several medicines. It is a valuable cardiac tonic. It corrects disordered processes of nutrition by which the organism ingests, digest, absorbs, transports utilizes and excretes food substances, and restores the normal function of the system. It also reduces excitement, irritation and pain.
The leaves of the plant are mildly bitter, which become less pronounced after cooking. The fruits of the plant of tonic value and serve as an effective laxative. They improve appetite.
Dropsy
The plant is beneficial in the treatment of dropsy. It increases the secretion and discharge if urine. Either it can be used as decoction or as a vegetable in the treatment of this disease. An extract of the leaves and stem, in doses of 6 to 8 ml, can also be taken.
Fevers
Mannathakali leaves are useful in fevers. Syrup of the vegetable can be given as a cooling drink. To induce copious perspiration, a hot infusion of 0.75 to 1.25 decigrams, of dried leaves can be used. The fruits of the plant can also be given with beneficial results in fevers.
Stomach Disorders
The leaves are effective in the treatment of the digestive disorders. The raw juice leaves can be used alone or mixed with other juice or liquids. It is used in stomach disorders like flatulence, peptic ulcer and colitis. An infusion of the plant is useful in dysentery and other stomach ailments.
Asthma
The plant helps in removing catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes in asthma patients. The fruits of the plant can also be used beneficially in treating asthma.
Skin Disorders
The plant is useful in chronic skin diseases. The juice extracted from the plant should be given in doses of 180 to 210 ml.
The juice can also be applied locally on the affected parts in chronic skin diseases such as acne, eczema, psoriasis. As an anodyne or pain reliever a decoction of the plant can be used for washing inflamed irritated and painful parts of the body.
A paste of the plant serves as a useful applicant over corrosive ulcers, pustules, and suppurating syphilitic ulcers, severe burns, herpes and rheumatic joints. Green fruits of the plant can be ground and applied locally on ringworm with gratifying results. A juice or poultice of leaves can be effectively applied on eruptive skin diseases, whitlow and burns.
Other Diseases
Hot leaves can be applied with gratifying results over swollen and painful scortum and testicles. A juice of poultice of the leaves is an effacious application over the rheumatic and gouty joints, corrosive ulcers and tumors. A decoction of the leaves can be used to wash tumors and inflamed, irritated and painful parts of the body.
Other Uses
Mannathakali leaves are popularly used as a vegetable. These leaves blend with other greens and pulses. The juice of the leaves can be mixed with medium like coconut water, coconut milk and butter milk and fruit juice.
