Manathakkali keerai

English – Black Night shade

Tamil –Manathakkali Keerai

Hindi –Makoi

Botanical Name – Solanum nigrum

 

 

Manathakkali Keerai, a variety of Indian Black nightshade, is cultivated for culinary as well as medicinal usage. This perennial, short-lived herb grows to a height of about 30 to 120 cm, and its leaves are heart-shaped and toothed at the edges, and have a hairy texture.

It bears fruit-like berries which turn red when ripe. The fruits are called manathakkali in Tamil and makoi in Hindi, literally meaning ‘fragrant tomatoes'.

The leaves' medicinal properties have been known for decades; reason why they have been a part of our diet for ages. Take, for example, keerai poriyal, porridge with lentils and leaves used to treat stomach ulcers and manathakali vathal kozhambu.

The leaves are also used in the treatment of liver disorders, fever and diarrhoea. One can simply chew the leaves for instant relief from cough, cold and mouth ulcers. It also has a high iron content, and so, is recommended for anaemic children and pregnant women with iron deficiency.

NUTRITIONAL VALUES

1. The minerals present in black nightshade are niacin, riboflavin, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Vitamin C is the only mineral that is present in high quantity.  The energy value is 68 and it has 82.1% moisture.

Fat                                            1.0 g                      

Calories                                      68          

Water content                          82.1 g                                   

Protein                                      5.9 g                      

Mineral Salts                               2.1 g                                                                                      

Sugar                                          8.9 g                      

Calcium                                     410 mg                 

Phosphorus                                 70 mg   

Iron                                           20.5 Mg

Vitamin C                                    11 mg

Niacin                                        0.9 Mg

Riboflavin                                  0.59 Mg

HEALTH BENEFITS

1. It acts as a healing component and one of the most important ingredient in Indian medicine.  The ache, annoyance and excitement are balanced with the help of these leaves.  The fruit of the plant are excellent appetizers. 

2. It reduces the body heat and prevent diseases that are caused by over heat.  Manathakkali keerai acts as a medicine to treat dropsy.

3. For acne, eczema and psoriasis, solanum nigrum is the best medicine prescribed by grannies.  The small berries of the herb is used as a good cure for asthma and fever. 

4. People who are suffering from urine problems are recommended to take this variety at least once a week to get rid of this problem. The juice of the leaves with stem is used to relieve the problem if it has been taken at regular basis. 

5. It revitalizes the functions of the body parts and energizes the person to work all the time without tiredness. 

6. The leaves of the black night shade is used for treating digestive disorders, stomach problems like colitis, peptic ulcers and flatulence. 

7.  Makoi acts as a effective remedy for dysentery and stomach ailments.