SOLANUM NIGRUM Linn.                                                           LUBI-LUBI

Solanum nodiflorum Jacq. Var. macrophyllum Dunal

Solanum rubrum Nees

Local names:  Amti (Bon., If.); anti (Bon., Tag.); bolagtab (Bis.); gamagamatisan (Tag.); hulablub (Bis.); kamkamatisan (Tag.); kamatesmanuk (S. L. Bis.);  konti (Tag.); kuti (Bik.); lagkakum (Bis.); lubi-lubi (Tag., Bik., Bis.); malasili (S. L. Bis.); muti (Sul., Bik.); natang-ni-aso (Ig.); nateng (Iv.); onti (Tag.); black nightshade, deadly nightshade, garden or common nightshade (Engl.).

Lubi-lubi us found throughout the Philippines in open, waste places, recently disturbed soil, etc., from sea level to an altitude of 2,000 meters.  It is cosmopolitan.

This is an erect, branched, smooth or nearly smooth herb 1 meter or less in height.  The stems are green and somewhat 3-angled.  The leaves are ovate to oblong, 5 to 8 centimeters long, and pointed at both ends, with subentire or undulately toothed or lobed margins.  The flowers are umbellately toothed or lobed margins.  The flowers are umbellately disposed, 5 to 8 on each peduncle, nodding, and borne on extra-axillary in inflorescences 1 to 2.5 centimeters long.  The calyx is green, with ovate-oblong lobes.  The corolla is white, and about 8 millimeters in diameter.  The fruit (berry) is dark purple or black, smooth, shining, rounded, and about 5 millimeters in diameter.  The seeds are yellow and minutely pitted.

The fruit of the improved variety is edible in the Philippines.  Ripe, it makes delightful jam and excellent pies.  Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk say that the Sutos use the young shoots as spinach and that the leaves, after boiling in water, are eaten as a vegetable in the Isle of France, Bourbon Island, and the Hawaiian Islands.  Hooper states that the Bote women use the fruit as a cosmetic; they rub the fresh seeds on their cheeks to remove freckles that it is widely eaten in Africa and are a favorite vegetable in Mauritius.

Desfosses isolated in 1821 from the fruit, solanine.  In 1891 Schmidt and Schutle isolated from the leaves a trace of an unidentified, mydriatic alkaloid; and in 1892 Waage isolated saponins from the fruit.  Kobert reports that in addition to solanine, the plant contains a tropeine alkaloid with a mydriatic action.  Martinez cites Professor Cordero, who conducted a chemical analysis of the plant without fruit:

Analyses of the fruit of the large, cultivated variety grown in the Philippines show that they are an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus and a good source of iron.

The plant is official in the Portuguese (3) Pharmacopoeia; the leaves in the Belgian (2); Danish (1,2); French (1-5); Greek (3); Mexican (1-4); Spanish (1-7); Swedish (1-4); and Venezuelan (1,2) Pharmacopoeias; and the fruit in the Spanish (1,2) Pharmacopoeias.

Regarding the toxicity of the plant, Steyn mentions Kobert, Pammel, Kannigesser and Leffkowitz, who describe poisoning in human beings who have partaken of the fruit. Steyn, however, remarks that as the fruit matures, it gradually decreases in toxicity until, when ripe, it contains no more, or perhaps more correctly, only nontoxic amounts of solanin. The harmlessness of the mature fruit is evidenced by the fact that it is extensively eaten, especially by children. It is also used in the making of jam and, instead of resins, in the making of puddings. Tavera mentions that the plant is narcotic and antispasmodic and that, like belladonna, it dilates the pupil. According to Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk the action of the active principle is similar to that of the saponins, but much less toxic. Clinically, the symptoms of poisoning are vomiting and diarrhea, accompanied by headache and colic, and followed by depression.

Kannigiesser reports that the effect of nightshade berries on the eyes was observed ½ hour after ingestion; mydriasis reached a maximum after 6 hours; and restriction of accommodation continued for 50 hours. The pulse was unchanged and the amount of urine was somewhat decreased. Subacute dryness of the throat was experienced after 1¾ hours; this persisted for 50 hours. Diminished secretion of sweat with dryness of the skin, mouth, larynx, and esophagus was observed. The skins of the berries were excreted unchanged in the feces after 49 hours. Bade suggests that in every case of poisoning a doctor must be called. In the meantime, until he arrives, it is advisable to give an emetic, and tannin or a liquid containing tannin. Artificial respiration may be used to counteract a possible paralysis of the lungs.

In the Philippines the fruit is reputed, to be a cure for diabetes, as eating them freely tends to reduce the sugar in the blood. According to Guerrero the leaves, when prepared in poultices, are said to have sedative and healing properties. Prepared as an alcoholate, they are said to alleviate neuralgic pains.

According to Standley, in Sinaloa the roots are said to have been employed as a remedy for bubonic plague.

Standley says that a decoction of the plant is employed as a fomentation for sore-eyes and for various skin diseases. Stuart states that the young shoots are eaten, after boiling and are considered to be corrective, cooling, and tonic to men (increasing virility) and women (benefiting menstrual disorders). The stalk, leaves, and root are used in decoction for wounds and cancerous sores, and as an astringent. They are also thought to have diuretic properties. Kirtikar and Basu report that the Chinese employ the juice of the leaves to alleviate the pain in inflammation of the kidneys and bladder and in virulent gonorrhoea. Burkill and Haniff record the uses of a decoction as a lotion for yaws. Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk write that the Zulus administer an infusion as an enema to infants with abdominal upsets. The Sutos rub the burnt and powdered root into incisions in the back for the relief of lumbago. They quote Hewat, who states that the plant is one of the native remedies for local application to anthrax pustules, and that natives apply a paste of the green berries to ringworm. Mixed with honey, it is sometimes administered to people suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. According to Steyn, in South Africa the expressed juice of the herb, and its decoction, are often successfully employed in cleaning and healing foul ulcers. He states that the plant is used in the treatment of headaches. He quotes Dragendorff, who states that the plant is used internally as a diuretic and an emetic. He also quotes Dornan, who says that the Rhodesian natives use the plant in the treatment of malaria, black water fever, and dysenteries.

Martinez reports that in Mexico a decoction of the plant is applied externally as a cooling agent, as a vulnerary  (in the form of fomentations), and for vaginal irrigation.

Nadkarni asserts that the leaves are employed as a poultice over rheumatic and gouty joints and also as a remedy in skin diseases. A fluid extract of the leaves and stems has been recommended in dropsy, in doses of ½ to 2 drachms; also in heart diseases, skin diseases, piles, gonorrhoea, inflammatory swellings, and chronic enlargement of the liver and spleen. A syrup of it is useful as a cooling drink in fevers, and to promote perspiration. The heated leaves are applied to painful and swollen testicles. Rolet and Bouret state that in Bohemia the leaves are placed in the cradles of infants to induce sleep. Standley says that the leaves are sometimes applied as a poultice to allay pain.

Standley reports that in Mexico the fruit is a domestic remedy for erysipelas. Steyn says that a paste of the immature fruit is used in the treatment of ringworm. Kirtikar and Basu remark that in Hindu medicine the berries are tonic, diuretic, and useful in anasarca and heart diseases. In Bengal the berries are employed in fever, diarrhea, eye diseases, hydrophobia, etc. A decoction of the berries and flowers is said to be useful in coughs, and consumption, in doses of 1 to 2 ounces.