Solanine is a bitter-tasting steroidal alkaloid saponin that has been isolated from all nightshades, including tomatoes, capsicum, tobacco, and eggplant. 139. However, the most widely ingested solanine is from the consumption of potatoes. Potato leaves, stems, and shoots are naturally high in this saponin.
How do you remove solanine from tomatoes?
Additionally, frying the green tomatoes in hot oil diminishes the solanine content, rendering the green tomato less toxic.
What part of the tomato has solanine?
All parts of the plant contain solanine, but the heaviest concentrations tend to be in the leaves and stems. Tomatoes have a long, somewhat shady, history due to their association with nightshade.
How do you remove solanine?
Solanine is not removed by boiling, but it can be destroyed by frying. Solanine poisoning is uncommon as cooks and the public are aware of the problem and tend to avoid green potatoes, in any case, consumption of up to 5 g of green potato per kg body weight per day does not appear to cause acute illness.
What are the effects of solanine?
Solanine poisoning is primarily displayed by gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, burning of the throat, cardiac dysrhythmia, nightmares, headache, dizziness, itching, eczema, thyroid problems, and inflammation and pain in the joints.