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Brihati

Solanum indicum L.

Brihati (Solanum indicum L.) is a plant drug, from the Solanaceae family. Documented in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India as component of Dashamula; referenced in WHO SEARO traditional medicine inventories.

Key facts
Botanical nameSolanum indicum L.
FamilySolanaceae
Pharmacopoeia statusDocumented in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India as component of Dashamula; referenced in WHO SEARO traditional medicine inventories

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 1991 to 2024, 7 with a DOI.

  • 1Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 11Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishBrihati
Latin/BotanicalSolanum indicum L.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Anti-inflammatory: Steroidal glycosides and solasodine inhibit NF-kB-mediated production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in macrophages
  • Respiratory: Alkaloids exert bronchodilatory effect through muscarinic receptor antagonism and mast cell stabilization
  • Anticancer: Solamargine induces apoptosis in cancer cells via caspase-3 activation and mitochondrial membrane depolarization

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.

  • Kasa-Shwasa (respiratory disorders): traditionally used for respiratory complaints. Studies in histamine-induced bronchospasm models have reported bronchodilatory and anti-asthmatic activity.
  • Traditionally used for inflammation. Animal studies have reported reduced carrageenan- and formalin-induced edema.
  • Krimighna: traditionally used as an anthelmintic. In vitro studies have reported activity against Pheretima posthuma and Ascaridia galli.

What do recent studies show?

No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • Glycoalkaloids (solanine, solamargine) are toxic at high doses; must use only properly processed preparations at Ayurvedic therapeutic doses
  • Contraindicated in pregnancy; steroidal alkaloids may exhibit teratogenic effects at high concentrations in animal studies

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

  • Solasodine
  • Solanine
  • Solamargine
  • Sitosterol
  • Apigenin
  • Luteolin
  • Diosgenin
  • Glycosides

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Tablet, Capsule, Kwath Ghana (solid extract), As component of Dashamoola

Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder twice daily; 50-100ml decoction; 500mg extract capsule; commonly used as part of Dashamoola formulation

Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water for respiratory conditions; as Dashamoola Kashayam after meals for anti-inflammatory effects

Storage: Cool, dry place in airtight containers. Protect from moisture. Alkaloid content stable under proper storage conditions.

Marker Compounds: Solasonine, Solamargine, Solasodine, Diosgenin, Carpesterol, Caffeic acid, Chlorogenic acid, Beta-sitosterol

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Kantakari as Brihati-Kantakari Dvandva for respiratory disorders
  • With other Dashamoola herbs for anti-inflammatory and analgesic synergy
  • With Vasa for bronchial conditions
  • With Pippali for Kapha-Vata respiratory conditions
  • With Guduchi for fever management

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews1

  1. Syu WJ, Don MJ, Lee GH and others. 2001. Cytotoxic and novel compounds from Solanum indicumJournal of natural products. PMID 11575964 · doi:10.1021/np010186v

Laboratory and animal studies11

  1. Gogoi D, Chattopadhyay P, Dolui SK and others. 2024. Studies on in vivo antithrombotic activity of quercetin, a natural flavonoid isolated from a traditional medicinal plant, African eggplant (Solanum indicum)Journal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 39127114 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.118686
  2. Gadewar MM, G K P, Mishra PC and others. 2023. Evaluation of Antidiabetic, Antioxidant and Anti-Hyperlipidemic Effects of Solanum indicum Fruit Extract in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic RatsCurrent issues in molecular biology. PMID 36826003 · doi:10.3390/cimb45020058
  3. Kaunda JS, Zhang YJ. 2020. Two new 23S,26R-hydroxylated spirostanoid saponins from the fruits of Solanum indicum var. recurvatumSteroids. PMID 31586607 · doi:10.1016/j.steroids.2019.108506
  4. Nwanna EE, Ibukun EO, Oboh G and others. 2014. HPLC-DAD Analysis and In-Vitro Property of Polyphenols Extracts from (Solanum Aethiopium) Fruits on α -Amylase, α -Glucosidase and Angiotensin - 1- Converting Enzyme ActivitiesInternational journal of biomedical science : IJBS. PMID 25598760
  5. Namsa ND, Mandal M, Tangjang S and others. 2011. Ethnobotany of the Monpa ethnic group at Arunachal Pradesh, IndiaJournal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine. PMID 21995750 · doi:10.1186/1746-4269-7-31
  6. N'dri D, Calani L, Mazzeo T and others. 2010. Effects of different maturity stages on antioxidant content of Ivorian Gnagnan (Solanum indicum L.) berriesMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 20953157 · doi:10.3390/molecules15107125
  7. Srividya AR, Arunkumar A, Cherian B and others. 2009. Pharmacognostic, Phytochemical and Anti-microbial studies of Solanum indicum leavesAncient science of life. PMID 22557334
  8. Jabbar S, Khan MT, Choudhuri MS and others. 2004. Bioactivity studies of the individual ingredients of the DashamularishtaPakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences. PMID 16414581
  9. Singh RK, Joshi VK, Gambhir SS. 1998. Anti-inflammatory activity of some traditional medicinal plantsAncient science of life. PMID 22556885
  10. Gan KH, Lin CN, Won SJ. 1993. Cytotoxic principles and their derivatives of Formosan Solanum plantsJournal of natural products. PMID 8450317 · doi:10.1021/np50091a003
  11. Chiang HC, Tseng TH, Wang CJ and others. 1991. Experimental antitumor agents from Solanum indicum LAnticancer research. PMID 1768063

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.