Integrative review of Kakamachi (Solanum nigrum L.) in Mydriasis with Ayurvedic and Ophthalmic Insights
¹A Karthika, and ²Khemchandra L. Mahajan
1,2Department of Shalakya Tantra, Parul Institute of Ayurved and Research, Vadodara – 391760 (India)
ABSTRACT
Kakamachi (Solanum nigrum L.) is a herb mentioned in Ayurveda that has an action on all eye diseases. In ophthalmology, usually for pupil dilation, which is done for dilating the pupil, they use tropicamide and which is used universally as it works well and has a quick action comparatively, but evidences suggest that it also triggers side effects such as burning sensation, narrowing of anterior chamber angles, blurring of vision, difficulty in seeing objects at night, painful irritation, etc. In Ayurvedic classical texts like Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, it is quoted that kakamachi is tridoshagna and netrahita and chakshushya. Laboratory studies have proved that Solanum nigrum contains active compounds such as solasodine, solasonine and solamargine, which have their parasympathetic action on the central nervous system, which helps in dilation of the pupil. However, proper clinical validation and research have not been conducted to date, and it’s still lacking. However, variability in active alkaloid content and lack of standardised extract preparation, including HPLC-based solasodine quantification, limit reproducibility and warrant controlled studies for clinical validation. This review documents classical Ayurvedic references, pharmacological data and available clinical findings on Kakamchi compared to the conventional agent Tropicacyl plus. Current evidence provides that kakamachi has pupil dilating action as it contains the active compound with fewer risks, so more controlled trials should be done before it can be considered a reliable alternative