Medicinal plants are the backbone of Traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda and Siddha. Solanum xanthcarpum (Solanaceae) (SX) is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs in Ayurvedic Pharmacopia. Me- dicinal plants have been of age-long remedy for human diseases because they contain components of therapeutic value. Plants are rich sources of ecologically developed secondary metabolites, which are potential remedies for different ailments. Kantakari (SX) of the family Solanaceae is one of the ‘dasamoola' and widely used drugs in Ayurveda. Dasamoola means a combination of ten plant roots together. It comprises roots of five big or major trees (Brihat panchmoola) and roots of five small trees or major herbs (Laghu panchmoola). Various studies indicated that SX contains steroidal glycoalkaloid solasodine, β-solamagrine and solasonine. The indigenous uses of plants also indicate anti-inflammatory, Antispermatogenic, Antidiabetic, Antiasthmatic, Molluscidal activity, useful in in- fantile atopical dermatitis, Cytoprotective, anticancer, insecticidal, insect repellent properties and diuretic activities. Therefore, the present investigation was intended to evaluate the preliminary phytochemical characters of this plant. The data and results of Phytochemical studies in the present study would facilitate discovery for the synthesis of more potent drugs.
Keywords: Solanum xanthocarpum, Dasamoola, ethnobotanical uses, pharmacognosy, pharmacological activities,