Black nightshade Solanum Solanum nigrum L

Black nightshade
Solanum
Solanum nigrum L —; deadly nightshade; common nightshade; garden nightshade
FAMILY: Solanaceae

DESCRIPTION :
Annual, thornless, essentially glabrous herb, .1 to 1 m tall. Leaves alternate, sinuately or coarsely toothed, 5 to 10 cm long, 2 to 5 cm wide. Flowers white, 6 to 8 mm broad. Fruit shiny, black when ripe, several seeded, 5 to 9 mm in diameter.

DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout the south, in gardens croplands, and the edge of woodlands.

TOXICITY
A toxic glycoalkaloid and a steroidal alkaloid, solanine and solanidine, have been isolated from this group of plants. Toxicity of a given species varies with environment, portion of plant ingested or degree of maturity. Green berries are more toxic than red or black berries which are more toxic than leaves which are more toxic than stems or roots. The berries of both Carolina horse nettle and black nightshade are green when immature. However, horse nettle berries turn yellow when mature and nightshade berries become black.

All classes of livestock and humans have been poisoned. The acutely poisoned animal is characterized by irritation of the mouth and gastrointestinal lesions or nervous signs such as lethargy, drowsiness, salivation, dyspnea, weakness, paralysis, coma, death. Chronically poisoned animals may demonstrate unthriftiness, jaundiced mucous membranes, ascites and constipation.

TOXIC PARTS:
The berries and vegetation are poisonous. The toxicity is not lost in drying and may be toxic in hay.

TOXIC PRINCIPLES:
Solanine, a saponic glycoalkaloid that breaks down into a sugar (solanose) and an alkamine (solanidine), is responsible for poisoning. The alkamines are steroidal. Concentration of solanine may increase 10 times with maturity.

TREATMENT: Gastric lavage, emesis ; treat symptoms asw they appear, supportive therapy. Paraldehyde (2-10 cc)IM.