TICAH Plant Database

Solanum incanum

English: Sodom apple, Kiswahili: Mtunguja, Digo: Mtunguza, Duruma: Mtondo/ Mtunkuja jooni, Giriama: Mtonda, Kamba: Mutondu/ Kitoongu, Kauma: Mtulwa, Kikuyu: Mutongu/ Mutonguo, Kipsigis: Labotwet, Kisii: Omotobo, Kuria: Iritotor, Luhya: Indulandula, Luo: Ochock/Jok, Maasai: Entulelei, Nubi: Abzubein, Rabai: Mtulwa, Samburu: Ntulelei, Suba: Enthorotobo, Turkana: Atulelo,

Family: Solanaceae

In the Luo community, it is used to treat earache (It Machwer to remo). The young tender leaves are smashed and the liquid is squeezed into the aching ear. The sponge-like tissue that grows on the plant is also used to treat ear problems. The tissue is heated and the juice is squeezed. Drops of it are put into the ear canal.
The Kikuyus use it for heart burns/Stomach Ulcers (Kerongorero/Iroda ya daa). Uproot the roots of the plant, wash them clean then chew always whenever you feel heartburn. They also use it to treat tonsils. Its fruits are used to treat joint problems. Its roots are chewed and swallowed to treat stomachache. Its fruits are also used to treat abscesses.

In the Luhya community, the plant is used for toothaches. The sap from the ripe fruit is squeezed in a quarter glass of warm water and then used to gaggle twice a day for 2 days only, again is repeated after a week. It is used to treat snake and dog bites. Its fruits are cut and applied to the bite to prevent the venom from getting into the circulatory system and spreading throughout the body. It is also mixed with soda ash and used to treat throat problems.

The Maasai use it for wounds. The sap from ripe fruit is squeezed in water and then used to wash the freshly-cut wound. They are also used to treat stomach problems. Roots are boiled and drunk for stomach problems. To prevent stomach complications, it is also mixed with soup. The fruit juice is also used as an antivenom. The plant is also used to treat flu and teeth problems.

The Kauma community uses the roots of the plant to treat teeth problems. Roots and leaves are boiled and drunk 4 times a day to treat stomach problems. They also claim the plant treats STIS (magonjwa ya sinaa) within 7 days.

The Rabai community uses it to treat chronic wounds. Leaves are burned to charcoal, crushed, mixed with jelly or coconut oil, and applied to the wound.

In the Kamba community, the plant is used for caterpillar poisoning. Its fruits are cut and its juice is squeezed into the bite. Roots are boiled and used to treat stomachache. They believe that when goats feed on the fruits, it acts as a dewormer.

Among the Kisii, the roots of the plant are used to treat gonorrhea and syphilis by boiling and drinking 3 times a day. Its fruits are cut and juice is used to treat head wounds by applying on them. To treat stomach ulcers the leaves are dried and burned and ash/activated charcoal licked and swallowed. The plant is also used to treat ringworms. The sap from ripe fruit is applied directly to the ringworm after cleaning it well with salty water.

For the Nubi community, the roots are boiled and drunk as laxatives. Juice from its fruits is used to treat nail infections.

The Pokomo community calls the plant Mchovyo. Its roots are used to treat stomach problems. Juice from its fruits is used to treat nail infections.

In Kuria, the plant is called Iritotor. It is used to treat stomach aches and teeth problems. It is also used to treat hiccups. Its roots are chewed and its sap swallowed. Roots can also be burned and the ash licked 3 times a day.

Among the Suba, the roots of the plant are boiled and drunk to treat fertility problems e.g., miscarriage. Its sponge-like tissue is used to treat ear problems. The tissue is warmed and its juice is squeezed into the sick ear. Juice from its fruit can also be used to make milk go sour.

In the Turkana community, the fruits of the plant are used to treat measles and itching. The fruit is crushed, and then the juice is mixed with water to foam and bathed on. It also treats jigger infections. The juice is squeezed into the jigger wound. Its roots are cleaned, chewed, and juice swallowed to treat flu. The fruit is also used to induce milk let-down in cows.

Among the Samburu, the plant is used to treat flu. The roots are boiled, cooled, mixed with milk, and drunk for 2-3 days.