Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad & Wendl.

Synonyms of Kantakari Kantakini, Kantarika, Kapateshvari, Katuvruntakini, Kantalika, Kantali, Kasaghni, Kuli, Gardabha, Chandrapushpa, Chandrabhasa, Chitraphala, Dravani, Dushpradarshini, Duhsparsha, Dushpradharshini, Dhavani, Dhavini, Nidighdhika, Prachodani, Priyankari, Bahukantaka, Bahuguha, Bahuputrika, Bruhati, Bhantaki, Rashtrika, Vartaki, Vyaghri, Spruhi, Sinhi, Hinguli, Kshudrakantika, Kshudrakantaka, Kshudraphala, Kshudravartaki, Kshudra.

VERNACULAR NAMES OF KANTAKARI
English : Yellow-berried nightshade
Hindi : Remgani, Katelli, Kattay, Katai, Ringni
Marathi : Bhuiringani
Bengali : Kantakari
Gujarathi : Bhoyaringani
Kannada : Nelagulle
Malayalam: Kantakariccunta, Kantakarivalutana, Kantankattiri,
Punjabi : Warrumba, Kandyali, Mahori, Kharian maraghune,
Tamil : Kantankattiri, Kandan-kattiri, Cundungkatric
Telugu : Callamulaga, Pinnamulaka, Nelamulaka, Vakudu, Jiddu
Bihari : Rengnie, Bhat-khataya, Rangaini janum
Oriya : Bheji begun
Santhal : Ranganie, Janum
Arabic : Badanjankare
Bolan : Bandanshan
Ceylon : Vaddu
Persian : Badanaganedasthi
Sind : Aderayjadenay
Soara : Vuste
Sinhalese : Ellabattu, Kattuvelbattu
Tulu : Gulla, Kallante
Urdu : Bhakkatiya, Katilla.

Classification of Kantakari

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Spermatophyta
Sub-division : Angiospermae
Class : Dicotyledonae
Sub-class : Gamopetalae
Series : Bicarpellatae
Order : Polemoniales
Family : Solanaceae (Night Shade)
Genus : Solanum (Night Shade)
Species : Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad & Wendl.

Gana & Varga of Kantakari

1 Charaka Samhita Kanthya, Hikkanigrahana, Kasahara, Shothahara, Sheetprashamana, Angamardaprashamana Gana, Madhura Skandha
2 Sushruta Samhita Varunadi, Brihatyadi, Kaneeyapanchamoola Gana, Dashmoola Gana
3 Ashtanga Sangrahama Kanthajanana, Hikkanigrahana, Kasahara, Angamardaprashamana, Shoolashamana,  Shothahara Gana
4 Ashtanga Hridayama - Varunadi Gana
5 Harita Samhita -Shaka Varga
6 Dhanvantari Nighantu -Guduchyadi Varga
7 Shodhala Nighantu - Guduchyadi Varga
8 Madanpala Nighantu -Abhayadi Varga
9 Kaiyadeva Nighantu -Aoushadhi Varga
10 Bhavprakash Nighantu -Guduchyadi Varga
11 Raj Nighantu -Shatahvadi Varga
12 Shaligram Nighantu -Guduchyadi Varga
13 Priya Nighantu -Haritakyadi Varga
14 Nighantu Adarsha - Kantakaryadi Varga
15 Abhidhana Ratnamala - Katu Skandha-5/24
16 Madhava Dravyaguna -Vividhaoushadi Varga
17 Siddhamantra Prakasha -Kaphavataghna Varga
18 Hridayadipika Nighantu - Chatushpada Varga
19 Saraswati Nighantu - Ulapadi Varga

Types of Kantakari :
According to Acharyas of various Nighantu, Kantakari is of 2 types -
1) Neela pushpi Kantakari
2) Shweta pushpi Kantakari

Botanical Description of Kantakari

Habit - a very prickly diffused bright-green perennial herb somewhat woody at the base.
Stem - somewhat zig-zag, branches numerous, the younger ones clothed with dense stellate tomentum, prickles compressed, straight, yellow glaberous and shining, often exceeding 1.3cm. long.
Leaves - are 5-10 x 2.5-5.7cm. ovate or elliptic, sinuate or sub-pinnatifide, obtuse or subacute usually rounded and unequal sides. Stellately hairy on both sides.Flowers - blue or violet-purple, in lateral cymes.
Fruit - berries are globose, 1.2-2 cm in diameter, fleshy, glabrous, yellow or whitish with green markings, surrounded by enlarged calyx.
Seeds - glabrous, subreniform, numerous embedded in fleshy mucilaginous mass, flattened round with a curve and 2-2.5 mm in diameter.

Raspanchaka of Kantakari

RASA :- Tikta, Katu
GUNA :-Laghu Ruksha, Ushna, Sara
VEERYA :-Ushna
VIPAKA:- Katu
DOSHAGHNATA:- Vataghna, Kaphaghna
KARMA :-Deepana, Pachana, Kasahara, Shwasahara, Jwarahara, Peenasahara, Parshvasulahara, Hridyaroganashaka, Bhedaka, Pitta karaka, Kandughna, Krimighna, Pramehahara, Veeryanashaka, Ruchivardhaka, Medorogahara, Sukrarechaka, Amadoshanashaka, Ashmarihara, Mutrakricchahara

Pharmacological Actions of Kantakari
 
Antiasthmatic properties - Effects of S. xanthocarpum extract on some of the parameters like smooth muscle relaxation, and antagonism of asthma mediators such as histamine, eiosinophils and protection against mast cell degranulation seemed to be prominent in pathophysiology of asthma.
Hypoglycemic activity - The experimental results indicate that it exhibit a potent blood glucose lowering property both in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.
Hepatoprotective activity - Jigrine is a polypharmaceutical herbal formulation containing aqueous extracts of 14 medicinal plants including Solanum xanthocarpum and used for liver ailments.

Therapeutic Uses of Kantakari
Shwasa, Kasa, Jvara, Aruchi, Peenasa, Pashvashoola, Svarabheda, etc.