Herba Solani Nigri
Aliases：Kucai (Bitter Herb)、Kukui (Bitter Nightshade)、Laoyayanjingcao (Old Crow‘s Eye Grass)、Tianqiezi (Sky Eggplant)、Tianqemiaoer (Sky Eggplant Sprout)、Tiantianqie (Daily Eggplant)、Jiuericao (Child-Rescuing Herb)、Houhongzi (Reddish Fruit)、Shuiqie (Water Eggplant)、Tianpao (Sky Blister)
Longkui (Solanum Nigrum Herb) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried whole plant of Solanum nigrum L. (family Solanaceae).
Efficacy & Actions
Clear heat and resolve toxin, activate blood and reduce swelling.
Indications
Furuncles, carbuncles and swelling, erysipelas, traumatic injury and sprain, chronic bronchitis, nephritis with edema.
Modern Pharmacology
Longkui has antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitussive, and expectorant effects. It is also reported that Longkui has atropine-like effects.
Ingredients
Longkui contains alkaloids such as solanine, solasonine, solamargine, and solanidine, among others. The aglycone obtained after hydrolysis of solanine is solanidine. The whole plant also contains saponins, the aglycones of which are diosgenin and tigogenin, as well as relatively high amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C.
Usage & Dosage
1. Internal use: 15–30 g in decoction. 2. External use: Appropriate amount, crushed for topical application or decocted for washing.
Contraindications
Not yet established.
Selected Formulas
1. Antitumor applications Cervical cancer: Often combined with Tiannanxing (Arisaematis Rhizoma), Muitouhui (a local herb), and Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix). Bladder cancer: Often combined with Gangbangui (Polygoni Perfoliati Herba), Baihuasheshecao (Hedyotidis Herba), and Shemei (Duchesneae Herba). Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Often combined with Shishangbai (Selaginellae Doederleinii Herba) and Banzhilian (Scutellariae Barbatae Herba). Liver cancer: Often combined with Ezhu (Curcumae Rhizoma), Shidagonglao (Mahoniae Caulis), and Fengfang (Vespae Nidus). 2. For sore throat, toothache, and boils/carbuncles Sore throat: Can be combined with Shemei, Daqingye (Isatidis Folium), and Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix). Toothache: Can be used alone as a decoction, or combined with Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma). Boils and carbuncles: The fresh herb can be crushed and applied externally alone, or combined with Pugongying (Taraxaci Herba), Zihuadiding (Violae Herba), and Daqingye for internal use. 3. For heat stranguria, edema, and difficult urination Heat stranguria (painful dribbling urination): Combined with Mutong (Akebiae Caulis) and Cheqiancao (Plantaginis Herba). Edema and difficult urination: Combined with Fuling (Poria) and Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma).
Daily Consumption
Longkui and Coix Seed Congee: Blanch the tender leaves, then cook with coix seed and rice to make congee. Garlic Longkui Leaves: Blanch the tender leaves, sauté minced garlic in oil until fragrant, then quickly stir‑fry the leaves. Longkui Lean Pork Soup: Blanch the lean pork, then simmer with the tender leaves for 1 hour. Black Nightshade Berry Jam: Cook fully ripe purple‑black berries with sugar and a little lemon juice to make jam.
Medicinal Parts
dried whole herb
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry container in a cool, dry place.