ISSN (Online) : 2277-4572
Author(s): Jani Dilip K.*, K. Saroja, Murthy A.R.V.
Kakamachi (Solanum nigrum Linn) belongs to family Solanaceae and is being used in Ayurveda in skin diseases and diabetes. It is being sold in the market under the common name Makoy. In order to ensure correct botanical standardization to remove the controversy, a detailed pharmacognostic study on whole plant of Solanum nigrum Linn has been carried out. The review on this drug shows that the drug is known since Vedic period. This is the plant amongst the few plants, which are used widely for purposes like Shaka Dravya (Vegetable drug). This study confirms that Solanum nigrum Linn fulfill the standard parameters, decided by the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeial committee of India. The Physiochemical standards like ash value, alcohol soluble extracts, water soluble extracts etc, were also with the limits of the values mentioned in Pharmacopoeia. The heavy metals analysis of Kakamachi was carried out for Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic, etc., shows that the drug, is free from the abnormal levels of heavy metals. The qualitative study shows the presence of Saponins, Tannins and Alkaloids in Kakamachi. The standard monogram prepared concludes that these parameters could be useful for future standard.
