The Solanaceae family, or nightshade family, includes over 2,000 species across
100 genera, ranging from herbs and shrubs to towering trees found worldwide.
They are recognized by their star-shaped flowers with five petals and sepals, and
alternate leaves. This family offers a mix of toxic and edible plants, including
deadly nightshade, potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants. While some have medicinal
uses, caution is advised due to varying toxicity. Nutritionally, they provide
vitamins and antioxidants, but some also contain harmful anti-nutrients
(Chidambaram et al., 2022).
