α-Tomatine (9) is a saponin found in tomato plants, in high concentrations (0.04%). This is accumulated in healthy plants in its biologically active form. Successful pathogens of tomato are more resistant to α-tomatine in vitro because of their ability to break down α-tomatine using the enzyme tomatinase.
What role does tomatine play in the tomato plant?
Tomatine may play a major role in resistance of the tomato plant against fungal, microbial, insect, and herbivoral attack. The effects of the glycoalkaloids (to which tomatine belongs), can be divided in two main parts: the disruption of cellular membranes and the inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.
How much solanine is in a tomato?
The solanine, or tomatine, level dramatically decreases in fully ripe tomatoes, to levels less than 5 mg per 1 kg of fruit weight. These low levels pose no health problems to humans, but even in the ripened form the solanine remaining in a tomato is harmful to cats.
Is tomatine toxic to humans?
The fruit isn't, but the leaves, roots, and stem (and, in limited doses, even some unripe fruit) are rich in tomatine, an alkaloid that's mildly toxic to humans. It won't kill you, unless you chow down pounds and pounds of it, but it is likely to cause you some gastrointestinal distress.
What foods contain Glycoalkaloids?
The Issue. Glycoalkaloids are a group of nitrogen-containing compounds that are naturally produced in various cultivated and ornamental plant species of the Solanaceae family. This large family of plants includes commonly consumed vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.
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