Bittersweet Nightshade

Scientific Name(s): Solanum dulcamara L.
Common Name(s): Bitter nightshade, Bittersweet, Bittersweet nightshade, Blue nightshade, Deadly nightshade, Dulcamara, Fellen, Felonwort, Fever twig, Mortal, Scarlet berry, Snake berry, Staff vine, Violet-bloom, Woody nightshade

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 14, 2022.

Clinical Overview

Use

Bittersweet nightshade has been used as a traditional external remedy for skin abrasions and inflammation. Limited studies have been conducted in diabetic rodents with equivocal findings; however, studies are limited by the plant’s toxicity.

Dosing

Traditional use of the stem has been at a dosage of 1 to 3 g/day, usually given as a decoction or infusion in 250 mL of water.

Contraindications

Contraindications have not yet been identified.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use. Documented teratogenic effects of the glycoalkaloids in animals.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Dilated pupils and GI effects (diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting) have been reported.

Toxicology

The plant is toxic. Ingestion of unripened berries should be considered a medical emergency. Symptoms may be delayed for several hours.

Scientific Family

• Solanaceae (nightshade)

Botany

Bittersweet nightshade is a member of the same family as the potato, tomato, and belladona. This plant is found widely throughout Europe, Asia, the US, and Canada. Bittersweet nightshade is a vine-like perennial that can grow to a height of approximately 3 m. It has alternating heart-shaped oval leaves that usually have 2 small ear-like segments at their bases. Its star-shaped flowers bloom from April to September; the flowers are pinkish-purple with bright yellow stamens. The flowers produce green berries that turn bright red when mature.Duke 2003, USDA 2016

History

The Latin name dulcamara refers to the flavor of the berries, which are first bitter, then unpleasantly sweet. Bittersweet nightshade has been used to treat cancers, tumors, and warts since ancient times as far back as Galen (AD 180)Kupchan 1965 and was recorded in Culpeper's Complete Herbal in 1681.Culpeper 2004 Although the plant has long been recognized as being highly toxicLowe 1929 it has been used as an external remedy for skin abrasions and inflammation. The stems were approved by the German Commission EMongraphs for external use as supportive therapy in chronic eczema.Blumenthal 1998

Its use to treat felons (inflammations around nail beds) may be the source of the name felonwort. The plant has been investigated for possible antirheumatic, diuretic, narcotic, and sedative activity, but these actions are linked to the toxicity of the plant, and therefore, have not been successfully exploited.

Chemistry

Chemical investigations into the composition of bittersweet have identified a number of alkaloids in the leaves and fruit, and reviews have been published.Duke 2017, Heretsch 2015, Milner 2011 There are several varieties of the plant that possess different alkaloid profiles. They occur primarily as glycosides of the 3 spirosolane alkaloids tomatidenol, soladulcidine, and solasodine, although the free alkaloids are sometimes also detected. Alpha-, beta-, and gamma-solamarine are glycosides of tomatidenol while soladulcines A and B are derived from soladulcidine and solasonine and solamargine are glyosides of solasodine. Green and yellowing fruits co...