The Egg-Plant (Solánum melongena L.) in Decholesterolization *

The medicinal properties ascribed to many plants by the common people for the cure of certain diseases have received the attention of chemists, and where the therapeutic value has been experimentally controlled they are now being utilized in scientific medicine. In an earlier paper I have dealt with the artichoke (Cynara scolymus), which is an important food vegetable often served because of its excellent taste and for its stimulating diuretic and cholagogue effects.' In that paper I dealt largely with the decholesterolizing properties of its fruit, leaves, and stem as observed in animal experimentation and in patients. In that work the fruit, as a dried powder, was added to the diet, or an extract of the leaves or fruit was injected intravenously or intramuscularly. Hypocholesterolemia was noted after 24 hours, as indicated by blood or serum titrations, and this condition I ascribed to the intensive cholagogue action. Along with this process, Which represents a removal of the tissue cholesterol, was noted an increased diuresis, a reduction in the alkaline reserve, and a rise in pH. In view of the fact that derivatives of cholesterol have been reported to exert carcinogenic effects, it is possible that decholesterolization might play an important role in modifying predisposition to cancer. It is from this point of view that I have studied another plant-the egg-plant-which possesses similar and more active properties. This plant exerts an intense cholagogue action accompanied by a very marked and hitherto undescribed decholesterolizing power. The egg-plant commonly used for food is the fruit of a Solanaceae (Soeinum melongena L.-S. esculentum Dunal) and it grows locally under different names as, for example, aubergine in France, melanzana in Italy, Eierflanze or Eierkartoffel in Germany, and egg-plant in England. In Argentina it is extensively cultivated. Despite its Asiatic origin, numerous varieties are known in America, the most common one, S. esculentum Nees, is rounded or