Asian J. Research Chem. 9(3): March 2016 127 ISSN 0974-4169 (Print) www.ajrconline.org 0974-4150 (Online) REVIEW ARTICLE A Brief Review on Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Therapeutic Potential of Solanum Indium L. used in Indian Systems of Medicine Jayanthy A 1 , Anupam Maurya 1 , Subash C. Verma 1 *, Anupam Srivastava 2 , Madhira B. Shankar 1 , Rajeev Kr. Sharma 1 1 Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (PCIM&H), PLIM Campus, Ghaziabad-201002, India. 2 CCRAS, Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi-110058, India *Corresponding Author E-mail: scvpharma@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Solanum indicum L. (Fam. Solanaceae) commonly known as poison berry in English is a prickly, much branched perennial under shrub, nearly upto 1m high, mostly found throughout India in warmer parts upto an elevation of 1500 m. This important medicinal plant is widely used in folk and traditional Indian systems of medicine for poisonous affections, skin diseases, ulcers difficult breathing, abdominal pain, cough and dyspepsia. In Ayurveda and Siddha. It is an important ingredient of dasamoola group of plants. The review attempts to highlight various available literature with respect to the therapeutic uses, enthno-medicinal uses, pharmacognostic studies, chemical constitutes and various reported pharmacological activities. Some steroidal alkaloids/glycoalkaloids such as Solasodine, Solasonine, Solamargine, Solanidine and Solanine were reported by various investigators. Pharmacognostic studies revealed the presence black powdery depositions of sandy crystals, throughout the root, sclerieds in the cortical region, phloem fibres towards the periphery and uni to biseriate medullary rays in xylem and phloem as the diagnostic characters of root of S. indicum. It is reported to have hepatoprotective, anthelmintic, antioxident and antimicrobial activity. KEYWORDS: Solanum indicum, enthnomedicinal, pharmacognostic studies, therapeutic uses, phyto-chemical constitutes, pharmacological activities. INTRODUCTION: Solanum indicum L., (syn. Solanum violaceum Ortega; Solanum anguivi Lam.) is an important medicinal plant in Indian systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. It is an important ingredient of dasamoola (a group of ten root drugs) group of plants used in Ayurveda and Siddha system of medicine and is used in vitiated conditions of vata, pita and kapha and cures vomiting, heart diseases, poisonous affections, skin diseases, ulcers difficult breathing, abdominal pain, cough and dyspepsia. Roots are bitter and pungent. it removes bad taste in the month and want of taste for food 1 . Received on 02.02.2016 Modified on 14.02.2016 Accepted on 04.03.2016 © AJRC All right reserved Asian J. Research Chem. 9(3): Mar., 2016; Page 127-132 DOI: 10.5958/0974-4150.2016.00022.5 Root is the major officinal part, but fruits and leaves occasionally whole plant are used. Root is an important ingredient in about 68 ayurvedic formulations. It is used separately or as an ingredient of dasamoola group of plants. Some of the important formulations in which it is used are Amritharishtam, Gandha Taila, Balajeerakadi Kashaya, Manasamithra Vataka, Pippalyadi Gridha, Rajanyadi Choorna, Vidaryadi Gridha etc. Solanum indicum L.,