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Kakamachi

Solanum nigrum

Kakamachi (Solanum nigrum) is a plant drug, also called Kakamaci and Makoya. Where the berries are used, only the ripe black berries are taken; the unripe green berries carry more solanine.

Key facts
Botanical nameSolanum nigrum
FamilySolanaceae · other entries in this family
OrderSolanales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 9150405 · Wikidata Q146400 · NCBI Taxonomy 4112
Names in other languages
SanskritDhvanksamaci, काकमाची (kākamācī)
Hindiमकोय (makoya)
EnglishGarden Night Shade
Tamilமணத்தக்காளி, Manarthakkali, Manitakkali
MalayalamKarinthakkali, Manatakkali, Manjathakkali
TeluguKamanchi
KannadaGanikayeagida, ganike, Ganikegida, Ganikesopu, Kage hanninagids
MarathiKamoni
BengaliGudakamai
GujaratiPiludi
UrduMakoh
PunjabiMako
OriyaLunilunika, Lunlunia
AssameseDatkachu, Kakamachi, Pikachia

Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (column alignment reconstructed); Flowers of India, 'Black Nightshade' (Solanum nigrum) page: Hindi given in Devanagari as मकोय / मोकोय (Mokoi). Corroborated by Ayurvedic per-species sources, which list the Hindi/Urdu name Makoy for Solanum nigrum under the Sanskrit drug Kakamachi.; Flowers of India, 'Black Nightshade' (Solanum nigrum) page: Tamil given in Tamil script as மணதக்காளி (Manatakkali). Corroborated by the India Biodiversity Portal Solanum nigrum species page (Tamil Manathakkali / Munatakali) and by Malayalam cognate Manatakkali.; Per-species Ayurvedic sources for Solanum nigrum under the drug Kakamachi, giving the Sanskrit synonym set Kakamachi, Kakahva, Vayasi, Bahuphala, Gucchaphala, Sarvatikta, Kushtagni, Kakini.. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2004 to 2025, every one with a DOI.

  • 7Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 5Laboratory 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
EnglishKakamachi

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)TiktaPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Laghu, SnigdhaPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)UshnaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)KatuPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Swarasa (fresh whole plant juice), Churna (powder), Capsule, Tablet, Kashayam (decoction), Ghrita (medicated ghee)

Standard Dosage: 10-20ml fresh plant juice; 3-6g powder twice daily; 500mg extract; 50-100ml decoction. Note: Ripe black berries only (unripe green berries contain higher solanine levels).

Optimal Timing: Fresh juice: morning on empty stomach for liver support. Powder/extract: before meals.

Storage: Fresh preparations: refrigerate. Dried preparations: cool, dry place below 25°C. Protect from light. Clearly label alkaloid content.

Marker Compounds: Solasonine, Solamargine, Solasodine (aglycone), Diosgenin, Quercetin, Caffeic acid, Riboflavin

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Bhringaraj for hepatoprotective action
  • With Himsra (caper) for liver protection
  • With Guduchi for liver and immune support
  • With Yashtimadhu, traditionally combined for gastric support

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 reviews7

  1. Wang Y, Wang T, Liu W and others. 2024. Anticancer effects of solasonine: Evidence and possible mechanismsBiomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. PMID 38198952 · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116146
  2. Pei H, Yang J, Li W and others. 2023. Solanum nigrum Linn.: Advances in anti-cancer activity and mechanism in digestive system tumorsMedical oncology (Northwood, London, England). PMID 37775552 · doi:10.1007/s12032-023-02167-7
  3. Sharma D, Joshi M, Apparsundaram S and others. 2023. Solanum nigrum L. in COVID-19 and post-COVID complications: a propitious candidateMolecular and cellular biochemistry. PMID 36689040 · doi:10.1007/s11010-022-04654-3
  4. Zhang H, Lv JL, Zheng QS and others. 2023. Active components of Solanum nigrum and their antitumor effects: a literature reviewFrontiers in oncology. PMID 38192621 · doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1329957
  5. Chen X, Dai X, Liu Y and others. 2022. Solanum nigrum Linn.: An Insight into Current Research on Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and PharmacologyFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 36052142 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.918071
  6. Luo S, Tian GJ, Yu FX and others. 2021. A narrative review of the antitumor studies of solanineTranslational cancer research. PMID 35116482 · doi:10.21037/tcr-20-3094
  7. Schmidt DD, Kessler A, Kessler D and others. 2004. Solanum nigrum: a model ecological expression system and its toolsMolecular ecology. PMID 15078438 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2004.02111.x

Laboratory and animal studies5

  1. Teng Y, Xiao Y, Sun H and others. 2025. Cadmium-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage in leaves of Solanum nigrum LPlant physiology and biochemistry : PPB. PMID 40373653 · doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110016
  2. Li SW, Zhao YH, Gao WK and others. 2023. Steroidal constituents from Solanum nigrumFitoterapia. PMID 37421992 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105603
  3. Liu LY, Yang YK, Wang JN and others. 2022. Steroidal alkaloids from Solanum nigrum and their cytotoxic activitiesPhytochemistry. PMID 35820506 · doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113317
  4. Bai M, Zhang Q, Hou ZL and others. 2022. Chemical constituents from Solanum nigrum and their neuroprotective activitiesJournal of Asian natural products research. PMID 34585635 · doi:10.1080/10286020.2021.1978987
  5. Ding X, Zhu FS, Li M and others. 2012. Induction of apoptosis in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells by solamargine from Solanum nigrum LJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 22172325 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.11.058

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

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