Maria-pretinha: como reconhecê-la, propriedades e toxicidade

In this video you will learn how to identify black maria through its main characteristics, the uses of this plant, its nutritional and medicinal properties and its toxicity. Nightshade can also be known as nightshade, and its scientific name is Solanum americanum. This species originates from the American continent, it occurs natively from North America, the Caribbean, Central America, to South America.

Here in Brazil this plant is a native species and occurs in all regions of the country and in varied vegetation formations, both in wild and anthropic environments, on streets, in vegetable gardens and in gardens. The black maria is a small shrub that generally reaches up to 1. 5 m in height, the plant does not have thorns, the stem is green in color, is cylindrical to slightly angular, often gives the impression of being triangular or quadrangular, and This is due to tiny longitudinal ridges that we can see when we run our hands along the stem.

When the plant is still growing, it has leaves with a toothed margin like the one you see, but in adult plants the leaf margin is generally slightly toothed or almost smooth, the leaf has a membranous texture, it is green on both sides and we You can feel tiny hairs when you run your hand over your upper face. The flower of the black mare is very small and very similar to that of many other plants that belong to the same botanical family Solanacea, it is starry and can be white or lilac, and has yellow anthers. The fruits of the maria-pretinha are small globose berries, they are green when immature and as they mature, they turn purple until they become black and shiny.

Another characteristic of this plant is that the pedicel, which is this little stem that supports the fruits, it is erect and remains on the branches for a few more days after the fruits fall, this is a characteristic that distinguishes it from another Solanaceae species that is very similar to this one. Now you will know the uses of black maria or nightshade. The black maria is a plant that many people have doubts about whether its fruits are edible, when they are green they are very toxic and should never be consumed, but when they mature and turn completely black they can be consumed, because the glycoalkaloids that are responsible Due to the toxic effects, they decrease as the fruits mature.

And the flavor is sweet with a subtle trace of acidity. In addition to natural consumption, they are often used to make jellies, cakes and various other foods. The hardest part seems to be getting a large quantity together, because some birds love these little fruits.

Another use of Solanum americanum is that its leaves can also be consumed, but in this case only sautéed or cooked, as the raw leaf may have some toxicity. There is even a publication by Fiocruz, for those watching the subtitled video, Fiocruz is the most renowned national institution for scientific health research, and in this publication on food plants, entitled Cadernos do Itaboraí, the fruits of Solanum americanum are described as edible and also the leaves. For the leaves, the publication presents a recipe for soup and another for farofa.

There are literary records that in some Latin American countries the branches of Maria-pretinha can be found in open-air markets and sold as a vegetable, and the consumption of cooked leaves is also reported in some African countries. In India, the roots or the entire plant, combined with other plants, is used to compose a rejuvenating tonic. I made the leaves just sautéed to try, and the flavor is very mild and pleasant.

Regarding nutritional values, the fruits of maria-pretinha contain proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, calcium and iron. And its leaves have high levels of proteins, calcium, iron, fiber, beta-carotene, vitamins B. C and vitamin E.

Solanum americanum is also a medicinal plant, in scientific publications the use of its leaves in popular medicine is recorded , under in the form of tea or poultice, to help treat ulcers, diarrhea, fever, asthma, hepatitis, pain, spasms, stomach gas, inflammations, wounds and other problems skin conditions such as erysipelas, scabies and herpes. Some scientific studies have already been carried out with Solanum americanum and it has been confirmed that the plant's extracts have the following activities: antioxidant, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, diuretic, hepatoprotective, antiarthritic and anticancer against animal breast cancer. Regarding toxicity studies, four species of Solanum whose leaves are consumed in African countries were evaluated, including Solanum americanum, and in this study low concentrations of glycoalkaloids with toxic properties were found, which suggests, according to the study, that consumption of the cooked leaves is safe for consumption and is a good nutritional source to be used in underdeveloped countries.

Some cases of Solanum americanum poisoning are related to the consumption of unripe fruits. Mild cases of poisoning can cause burning in the mouth, stomach pain, vomiting and fever. Severe cases can even cause cardiorespiratory arrest.

There you have all the information about Solanum americanum, subscribe to the channel to watch more videos like this, enjoy and watch the Playlist of food plants that is appearing here on the final screen, thank you for watching and see you in the next video!