Nutraceutical Studies of Solanum torvum Swartz.

The present study deals with the taxonomic details, geographical distribution and nutritional aspects of Solanum torvum Swartz. used as a vegetable in the states of North East India as well as in several South Indian states. It is also widely distributed in Uttarakhand, though its edible uses have not been reported from this small state in North India. We conducted a study on the nutritional potential of S. torvum berries by evaluating fat, carbohydrates, proteins, energy, total ash and water content using standard methods. HPLC profiling, as well as HPTLC were performed using an in-house protocol developed at Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The presence of triterpenoids, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins and tannins indicates the nutritional and medicinal importance of S. torvum. Biochemical compounds like carbohydrates (15.5% w/w), proteins (0.31%), fats (1.09% w/w), total ash (1.03% w/w) and water content (82.41%) represent its appreciable nutritional value, especially as a low-fat diet and also its contribution to fighting against nutrient deficiencies.