Elucidation of nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological activities of Solanum mammosum L.

Solanaceous crops are greatly diverse plant families, of which Solanum is the largest genera having 1,700 species.Among the Solanum species, Solanum mammosum L. stands out as a tropical and neglected fruit due to its elevated levels of steroidal alkaloids.However, due to the report on consumption at their vegetative stage in some Asian countries, the present investigation is done to monitor the amount of nutrients, phytochemicals, and pharmacological potential.The outcome of this study shows that the fruit of S. mammosum contains various nutrients such as free fatty acids (0.56 ± 0.008 mg/g), total amino acids (1.60 ± 0.031 mg/g), proline (173.16 ± 5.463 µmole/g), methionine (1.17 ± 0.004 mg/g), different biological pigments and several vitamins.It was also observed that the fruit has antioxidant, antifungal, and antidiabetic properties.It inhibits Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans by showing the zone of inhibition at 4 ± 0.20 mm and 12 ± 0.62 mm, respectively.The inhibition of -amylase and -glucosidase shows that the fruit can reduce or control glucose levels in our body.Hence, this justifies that the plant has nutraceutical properties and further, it will support basic healthcare across the globe by exploiting it in drug development.