THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF SOLANUM NIGRUM (MAKO) IN TRADITIONAL AND MODERN MEDICINE

Abstract

Solanum nigrum Linn, commonly known as Black Nightshade in English, Mako in Urdu, Manittakkali in Tamil, and Kalukammeriya in Sinhala, is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Solanaceae. It is widely distributed across tropical and temperate regions of the world and has long been utilized in various traditional medicinal systems. This review aims to summarize the phytochemical constituents, traditional uses, and pharmacological properties of Mako, highlighting its potential as a valuable medicinal plant. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar. Articles published in English up to January 2024 were reviewed, focusing on pharmacological studies related to Solanum nigrum. Search terms such as ‘Mako’, ‘Solanum nigrum’ combined with ‘Anti-inflammatory’, ‘Hepatoprotective’ and ‘Nephroprotective’ were used for articles published up to 2024. A total of 36 articles were filtered and scrutinized.  The plant is known for its rich phytochemical composition, including flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, proteins, carbohydrates, acetic compounds, and resins. Interestingly, it lacks certain phytoconstituents such as sterols, steroids, and anthraquinones, which differentiates its pharmacological profile from other medicinal herbs. Preclinical studies have revealed a broad spectrum of biological activities associated with Solanum nigrum, suggesting its potential therapeutic applications. Documented pharmacological effects include hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer (or antitumor), antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antihyperlipidemic activities. These effects are attributed to the presence of various bioactive constituents that modulate oxidative stress, inflammatory pathways, and metabolic processes. Despite the promising findings from in vitro and in vivo models, clinical evidence on the safety and efficacy of Solanum nigrum in humans remains limited. Therefore, further well-designed clinical trials are necessary to validate its traditional uses and establish safe dosage parameters for therapeutic applications.