Progress in Solanum nigrum L. research: Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, quality...

Solanum nigrum L. (S. nigrum) is an annual medicinal plant of the Solanaceae family, rich in phytochemicals and pharmacological activities with a fairly wide range of clinical applications. These plants are found in Asia and Europe, and have recently been transplanted to the Americas and Australia, growing mostly in fields and wastelands. Numerous studies have shown that S. nigrum possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, etc., and the research prospects are promising.

This paper reviews the extant literature on S. nigrum, summarizing its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, quality control, toxicity assessment, and clinical applications. It provides a reference for the systematic study of S. nigrum, the further development of S. nigrum products.

A comprehensive search of the published literature from January 1949 to April 2025 was conducted using PubMed, Science Direct, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Web of Science databases to identify original research related to S. nigrum.

A plethora of studies have demonstrated the abundance of phytochemistry within S. nigrum, encompassing alkaloids, steroids, lignans, flavonoids, carbohydrates, and etc. These phytochemistry possess a plethora of pharmacological activities, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimalarial, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, analgesic, hypoglycemic, neuroprotective, intestinal flora regulating, immunological, and etc. CONCLUSION: This paper provides a comprehensive review of S. nigrum. However, current research on S. nigrum remains relatively limited. Therefore, it is recommended that further studies be conducted on the pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and quality control of S. nigrum to serve as important references for its clinical application and new product development.