Scientific Name : Solanum aethiopicum L.
Family: Solanaceae
Synonyms: Solanum gilo Raddi
(1820), Solanum incanum auct. non L.
Vernacular
names
African eggplant, garden egg, scarlet
eggplant, bitter tomato (En). Aubergine africaine,
aubergine écarlate, tomate amère, djakattou (Fr). Jiló, jagatú tunga (Po). Ngogwe, nyanya
chungu (Sw).
Origin
and geographic distribution
Solanum aethiopicum was domesticated from
the wild Solanum anguivi Lam., via the semi-domesticated Solanum distichum
Schumach. & Thonn. Both are found throughout tropical Africa, Solanum
anguivi in disturbed vegetation and Solanum distichum in gardens. Solanum
aethiopicum is grown throughout tropical Africa and South America (mainly
Brazil), and occasionally elsewhere, e.g. in southernmost France and Italy.
It is one of the leading vegetables in tropical Africa. In the humid zone of
West Africa it is mainly grown for its immature fruit (garden egg), in the
savanna area frequently for both its leaves and immature fruits (often called
‘djakattou’), and in East Africa, especially Uganda, mainly as a leaf
vegetable (called ‘nakati’).
The African eggplant, also known as garden
eggs or mock tomato, is a vegetable that is usually found in the non-humid
savanna of sub-Saharan Africa (especially West and East Africa) although some
crops have been established in South America. Its scientific name is Solanum
aethiopicum, and it is divided into three types: Gilo, Shum and Kumba.
Solanum aethiopicum is used as an ornamental in Asia. Solanum species
(eggplants) belong to the family of Solanaceae and the plant genus Solanum
with over 1,000 species worldwide. It is represented in Nigeria by about 25 species
including those domesticated; with their leaves, fruits or both eaten as
vegetables or used in traditional medicine.
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Uses
The leaves of Solanum
aethiopicum are eaten
as a leaf vegetable and
are actually more nutritious than the fruit.
The highly variable fruit of the plant is eaten both raw and cooked and is
becoming more popular as a cultivated crop. These fruits are usually harvested
while still green, before the skin becomes thick. The bitterness depends on the levels
of saponin it contains, some with a sweet flavor
and others very bitter. When the berries
mature, they turn bright red because of high carotene content.
A traditional food
plant in Africa, this little-known vegetable has potential to improve
nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support
sustainable landcare.
The African eggplant has a number of uses. Both the fruit and the leaves can be eaten.
In India and Malaysia, the fruit is used
to make a sour relish while in Indonesia and Suriname the fruit is eaten with
rice, and the leaves are either cooked or steamed. The leaves are high in
beta-carotene, alkaloids and calcium. The roots of the plant have also been
used for those afflicted with bronchitis, itch and body aches.
The
immature fruits of Solanum aethiopicum are used as cooked vegetables in stews,
and sometimes eaten raw. The leaves and shoots are used as a cooked vegetable. They are picked from
the same plants that provide the fruit vegetable or from special leafy
cultivars. Fruits of bitter cultivars are used as medicine in many African
countries.
This
underutilized vegetable has found its place even in the high value chain super
markets in Africa and now it’s a popular cash crop in Tanzania.
The highly variable fruit of the plant is
eaten both raw and cooked and is becoming more popular as a cultivated crop.
These fruits are usually harvested while still green, before the skin becomes
thick. The bitterness depends on the levels of sopanin it contains, some with a
sweet flavor and others very bitter. When the berries mature, they turn bright
red because of high carotene content.
Fruits of bitter cultivars are used as medicine
in many African countries. Small-scale growers account for at least 80% of the
total production. Leaves of S. aethiopicum are especially important in
Southeastern Nigeria, Cameroon and Uganda and it’s the most popular vegetable
in Kampala market. African eggplant cultivation is expanding in Tanzania
because of its economic and nutritional value. They are known as garden eggs in
Nigeria and called gauta in hausa, afufa or anara in igbo or igba in yoruba. They
are highly valued constituents of the Nigerian foods and indigenous medicines
that are either eaten raw or cooked, very popular in mixed and rich dishes such
as stews and soups, especially in the southern and western parts of Nigeria,
although, they are highly cultivated in the north.
Medicinal applications include the use of
roots and fruits as a carminative and sedative, and to treat colic and high
blood pressure; leaf juice as a sedative to treat uterine complaints; an
alcoholic extract of leaves as a sedative, anti-emetic and to treat tetanus
after abortion; and crushed and macerated fruits as an enema. Igbo people in
south-eastern Nigeria traditionally welcome visitors into the family house by
offering fruits. Solanum aethiopicum is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental.
Some cultivars (Aculeatum Group) are occasionally used as a rootstock for
tomato and eggplant.
Eggplants have indigenous medicinal uses,
which range from weight reduction to treatment of several ailments including
asthma, skin infections and constipation. Various plant parts are used in
decoction for curing ailments such as diabetes, leprosy,gonorrhea, cholera,
bronchitis, dysuria, dysentery, asthenia and haemorrhoids. The leaves of Solanum aethiopicum are eaten
like spinach and are more nutritious than the fruit.
References:
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