An alcoholic extract of Solanum dulcamara L., a plant widely used in folk medicine for treating cancers and warts, shows tumor-inhibitory activity against Sarcoma 180 in mice. Systematic fractionation of the extract has led to isolation and characterization of beta-solamarine as an active principle.
Alkaloids are well known for their antimicrobial activity. Though all natural alkaloids come from plants, not all plants produce alkaloids. Plants of the Solanaceae family are known for their high alkaloid content. Alkaloids are found in all plant parts like roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and