Kantkari / Wild EggPlant / Solanum Xanthocarpum – Classification, Ayurvedic Properties and Dosage

Description

Kantkari is one of the Ayurvedic herbs that is useful mainly in throat problems. This herb is commonly known as Yellow-Berried nightshade or Indian Nightshade. Other than throat problems it is very effective in various other problems due to various properties such as anti-inflammatory, antitussive, anti-asthmatic, hypoglycemic, antipyretic, antihistamine, antispasmodic, etc. Let’s further discuss this miraculous herb in the following article.

Kantkari Ayurvedic Properties, Benefits of Kantkari, Botanical Name of Kantkari, Classification, Effects On Doshas, Synonyms, Solanum xanthocarpum, Wild EggPlant, Health, Dosage, Ayurvedic products

Systemic Classification

Botanical Name – Solanum Xanthocarpum
Family – Solanaceae
Genus – Solanum
Species – S.Virginianum

Synonyms

Kshudra
Dusparsha
Vyaghri
Nidigdhika
Kantalika
Kantakini
Dhvani

Other Vernacular Names

In Hindi – Rengni
In Gujarati – Bhonyarengni
In Bengali – Kantikari
In Tamil – Kandankantiri
In Kannada – Nella Gullu
In Telgu – Challan mulaga
In English – Wild Eggplant

Habitat

This Species is found mainly in India, Assam, Bengal and in waste lands or over roadsides.

Morphology

It is a perennial thorny shrub which is approximately 0.75-1.25 meters in height. It is of glossy green color, and its leaves are 10-13 cm in length and 5-7 cm in width. Thorns are present on the dorsal aspect of leaves and its flowers are blue in colour. The fruits of Kantakari are round in shape, small and spiky. Fruits are of green colour with streaks of white colour when raw and these streaks turn yellow after ripening. The flowering season of Kantkari is summer.

Classical Categorisation

Bhavprakash Nighantu: Guduchyadi Varga
Raj Nighantu: Laghu Panchmool, Panchgana.
Charak Samhita: Kasahara, Hikkanigrahana, Kanthya, Shothhara, Angmardaprashaman, Sheetpittaprashaman.
Sushruta Samhita: Varunadi, Brihatyadi, Laghu Panchmool.

Ancient Verse

Shloka – 1

कण्टकारी सरा तिक्ता कटुका दीपनी लघुः।
रुक्षोष्णा पाचनी कासश्वासज्वरकफानिलान्।।
निहन्ति पीनसं पार्श्वपीडाकृमिहृदामयान्।

Reference:- भा.प्र — गुडुच्यादी वर्ग ४०-४१

Interpretation of Shloka – Interpretation of Shloka: Kantkari consists of Tikta (Bitter) and Katu (Pungent) Rasa (Taste). It is Agni Deepaka (Promotes digestive fire) and has light and dry properties with hot potency and Pachaka (Digestive) properties. It helps in managing various conditions such as cough, asthma, fever, Kaphaj disorders, Vataj disorders, Rhinitis, pain in flanks, worm infestation and Heart conditions.

Shloka – 2

तस्याः फलं कटु रसे पाके च कटुकं भवेत।।
शुक्रस्य रेचनं भेदि तिक्तं पित्तग्निकुल्लघु।
हन्यात् कफ मारूत्कण्डु कासमेदः कृमिज्वरान।।

Reference:- Dhanwantri Nighantu

Interpretation of Shloka – It is bitter in taste and promotes ejaculation of sperms, helps in breaking the waste, consists of bitter and pungent taste. It increases pitta dosha as well as induces digestive fire and light to digest. It is helpful in managing Kaphaj disorders, Vataj disorders, itching, cough, obesity, worm infestation and fever.

Shloka – 3

तद्वित प्रोक्ता सिता क्षुद्रा विशेषाद् गर्भकारिणी।।

Reference:- भा.प्र — गुडुच्यादी वर्ग ४२

Interpretation of Shloka – Its flowers are called the best in all the flowers. Their potency is hot, fragrant, bitter and good for the eyes.

Shloka – 4

कण्टकारीरसे सिद्धो मुद्गयूषः सुसंस्कृतः|
सगौरामलकः साम्लः सर्वकासभिषग्जितम् ||

Reference:- च.चि १८/१८४

Interpretation of Shloka – Add soup of green lentil in decoction of Kantkari and temper it with ghee and cumin. Then add paste of white mustard seeds and Indian gooseberry along with juice of sour pomegranate. This remedy is beneficial for every kind of cough problem.

Shloka – 5

पाठाविडव्योषविडङगसिन्धुत्रिकण्टरास्नाहुतभुग्बलाभि।।
शृङगीवचाम्भोधरदेवदारूदुरालभाभाग्याशटीभि:।
सम्यग्विपक्वं द्विगुणेन सर्पिर्निदिग्धिकायाः स्वरसेन चैतत्।
श्वासाग्निसादस्वरभेदभिन्नान्निहन्त्यु दीर्णानपि पञ्च कासान्।

Reference:- सु.उ ५२/३०-३१

Interpretation of Shloka – Make paste of the following ingredients by taking them in equal quantity:

Patha (Cissampelos pareira)
Vid Lavana (Ammonium Chloride)
Sonth (Zingiber officinale)
Marich (Piper nigrum)
Pipali (Piper longum)
Vidang (Embelia ribes)
Saindhav Lavana (Rock Salt)
Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris)
Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata)
Chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica)
Bala (Sida Cordifolia)
Karkatshringi (Pistacia integerrima)
Vacha (Acorus calamus)
Nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus)
Devdaru (Cedrus deodara)
Duralabha (Fagonia cretica)
Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum)
Harad (Terminalia chebula)
Kachur (Curcuma zedoaria)

Now add Decoction of Kantkari (Solanum xanthocarpum) 2 times the paste and process it with ghee. This remedy is helpful in various conditions such as Shwaas (Asthma), Agnimandya (Slow digestive fire), Swarbheda (Hoarseness of voice), and 5 types of kaas (Cough).

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (Taste) – Tikta (Bitter) and Katu (Pungent)
Guna (Quality) – Laghu (light) and Ruksha (Dry)
Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (hot)
Vipaka (Post Digestive Effect) – Katu (Pungent)
Karma (Action) – Kapha Vata Hara (Reduces Kapha and Vata Dosha), Vedna Sthapana (Reduces pain), Deepana (Induce digestive fire), Pachana (Stimulate Digestion), Rechana (Induce Purgation), Krimighana (Useful in Worm Infestation), Raktashodhak (Purifies blood), Shothahara (Reduces Swelling), Mutral (Diuretic), Sweda janan (Induces Sweating), Kushtha hara (Deals with skin problems), Jwara Ghana (Reduces temperature), Shwasajit (Manage Asthma and other respiratory conditions), Amadoshahara (Eliminates endotoxins from the body), Aruchihara (Improves appetite), Kanduhara (Reduces itching), Balapaushtik (Provides nourishment and improves strength).

Practical Uses/Benefits

Following are various practical uses or benefits of Kantkari:

Mainly this herb is beneficial in all kinds of respiratory issues other than that the following benefits of this herb comes into play.
If we put Kantkari juice in the nose, it aids in stimulating the nerves thus really beneficial in conditions such as convulsions, epilepsy, etc.
Its powder is beneficial in improving the appetite and enhancing the digestive fire.
The laxative properties of this herb is really beneficial in inducing purgation thus helpful in the detoxification and deworming process.
This herb assists in purifying blood and serves with anti-inflammatory effect thus helps in promoting heart health and managing various skin conditions and inflammatory conditions.
Mixture of swaras (Juice) of kantkari and honey possess diuretic properties thus helps in managing dysuria.
This herb is also beneficial in the case of hair dandruff and promotes hair health too, for this take 30-50 ml juice of this herb and apply over the scalp for 1 hour and then wash it with herbal shampoo.

Part Used

Root, Fruit, Whole Plant

Chemical Composition

This herb includes chemical constituents such as B – Carotene, Carpesterol, Diosgenin, Solasodine, B – Solamargine, Solamargine, Solasodine – L – Rhamnosy – B – D – Glucoside, Solano Carpine, Solanine, tomatidine.