The Solanum Xanthocarpum is popularly known as kateli, Kandakarichunda, Kandankattiri and Indian Solanum. It has sharp and prickly branches that are densely covered with rather minute star shaped hair. The herb has yellow colored shining prickles that are of 1.5 cm in size. The sparsely hairy egg shaped leaves, purple colored flowers and round fruits. The fruit also has smooth seeds.
The Solanum Xanthocarpum is native to India. This herbal plant is usually found in wastelands of India and on the roadside as well as open scrublands.

Kantkari plant bears glabrous, globular drooping berries as fruits, yellow or pale in color, with green veins. 

NUTRIENT COMPOSITION

The fruit of Solanum Xanthocarpum contains carpesteral, solanocarpine and glucoside alkaloids. It also contains solanidine and solamine S. the Solanum Xanthocarpum also contains sterols, alkaloids, carbohydrates, fatty and amino acids: solanocarpine, carpesterol, solanocarpidine, potassium nitrate, fatty acid, diosgenin, sitosterol, isochlorogenic acid, neochronogenic acid, chronogenic acid, caffeic acid, solasodine, solasonine, solamargine, quercetin, apigenin, histamine, acetylcholine. 

THERAPEUTIC POWERS OF THE HERB

The roots of Solanum Xanthocarpum are used widely as a medical ingredient that has been used by Ayurvedic herbalists for relieving common ailments. This drug is bitter tasting and a mild purgative. Various experiments by physicians have shown that the plant possesses anti bacterial benefits.
The herb can relieve problems of bronchial asthma, bronchitis and chronic cough. It is a laxative and carminative that is useful in acute cases of gastrointestinal problems. 

Uses & Benefits of Kantakari

• Kantkari is useful in treating worms, cold, hoarseness of voice, fever, dysuria, enlargement of the liver, muscular pain, spleen and stone in the urinary bladder.
• Nasal administration of kantkari is beneficial in migraine, asthma and headache.
• Its dried fruit is used in making cigarettes. The smoke from these cigarettes is held in the mouth cavity, to treat dental infections.
• The juice of the berries is used in curing sore throat.
• The fumigation of kantakari is helpful in piles.
• The herb is made to a paste and applied on swollen and painful joints to reduce the pain and swelling in arthritis.
• Roots and seeds are used as an expectorant in asthma, cough and pain in chest.
• The decoction of the root is given with honey, to treat cough.
• The root is ground to a paste and mixed with lemon to cure snake and scorpion bites.
• Its stem, flowers and fruits, being bitter and carminative, are used for relieving burning sensation in the feet.
• Kantakari fruits also facilitate seminal ejaculation, alleviate worms, itching, and fever and reduce fats.
• The fruit works as an aphrodisiac in males.
• Its seeds are helpful for treating irregular menstruation and dysmenorrheal in females.
• The herb is beneficial in the treatment of cardiac diseases associated with edema, since it is a stimulant to the heart and a blood purifier.

Caution

• Kantkari should not be taken during pregnancy.