Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Profiles, and Pharmacological Effects of Ethiopian Eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.)

Abstract

Natural product therapy has been used to treat illness for thousands of years, and modern-day medicines, such as various anticancer, antihypertensive, and antimigraine drugs, have been developed from natural products. Natural medicines are advantageous as they tend to have fewer side effects and are considered a relatively safe option. Solanum aethiopicum L. (S. aethiopicum) is a vegetable crop of the Solanaceae family and is considered one of the five most important crops in sub-Saharan Africa, alongside tomatoes, onions, peppers, and okra. S. aethiopicum has many health benefits as it contains the three major macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) as well as fiber and many essential vitamins. Additionally, much research has been conducted on the medicinal value of S. aethiopicum over the past few decades. S. aethiopicum has been found to have many pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, and antioxidant effects. Currently, to our knowledge, there are no comprehensive reviews of the numerous studies on S. aethiopicum. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the nutritional, phytochemical, and pharmacological analyses of S. aethiopicum, identify notable effects, and review the results.