By Dr Renita D'Souza
presentation
Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a popular food crop cultivated worldwide. Commonly known as white potato or Irish potato. Potato, being a sustainable food, also has medicinal value. The fruits are not suitable for consumption as they contain the toxic alkaloid solanine. Potatoes are a rich source of starch and this potato starch forms a lie of fine flour and starch. Potatoes are also an important source of alcohol.
read – Dioscorea bulbifera – Air potato uses, research, side effects
Botanical name – Potatoes
Family – Solanaceae
synonymously – Solanum andigenum, Tuberous potato, Lycopersicon tuberosum (L. Mill.), Parmentiera edulis
Medicinal qualities
keys (race) – Madhura (sweet)
Quality (Guna) – Guru (heavy to digest), Ruksha (dry)
Power (Virya) – Shitha (cold)
Action (Karma) –
Vishtambhi causes bloating
Srishta Mutra Mala – helps in the formation and excretion of urine and stool.
Durjara – Difficult to digest
Raktapittanut – useful in rakthapitta (bleeding disorders)
Balya – promotes strength
Vrishya – aphrodisiac
Effect on Tridoshas
Kaph-anila kara – Increases kapha and vata dosha
Used part
Tuber, leaf
read – Uses, remedies, qualities, research of tomato
Botanical description
Solanum tuberosum is a shrubby perennial herb growing up to 60 cm in height. Leaves are pinnate with a single terminal leaflet, leaflets usually 5-9, large, ovate with smaller leaflets in between. White, pink, red, blue or purple flowers with yellow stamens. The fruits are spherical to ovoid berries, 2-4 cm in diameter, green in color, each containing 300 seeds. Rhizomes originate from basal stem nodes underground with up to 3 rhizomes per node.
distributed
Solanum tuberosum is a native of America and was brought to India by the Portuguese. It is cultivated worldwide. It grows best in cool climates.
'Potato Vak'
Mueller (L. Klin. Woch) recommends potato meal for babies.
Preparation
Potatoes are washed well, cleaned and cut into slices.
These slices are then dried at a low temperature not exceeding 40 degrees0C.
Slices containing the husk are ground into powder, slightly roasted at 500 up to 550temperature C.
At this temperature, starch is converted into dextrin.
This powder contains natural ingredients such as minerals, albuminoids and vitamins.
Reference – Indian Materia Medica, Vol 1 By AK Nadkarni
read – East Indian ArrowRoot: Uses, Medicines, Research, Side Effects
Nutritional values
Solanum tuberosum is composed of starch and rich in minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur and copper. The vitamins present in potatoes are beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B6 and folic acid.
Legal remedies
- The poultice prepared from potatoes boiled in water is used for boiling potatoes in water, it is used in rheumatic joints, swellings, skin rashes and hemorrhoids.
- Uncooked potato paste is applied to burns and scalds as a soothing plaster.
- Potato skin is used for burns and swollen gums.
- In constipation, consumption of boiled/steamed potato will help in forming soft stools and making them easier to pass. If consumed in excess it can cause bloating.
- Raw potato juice is used to treat stomach and intestinal ulcers.
- Potato slices are kept over the eyes to treat dark circles.
- Leaf extract is used in chronic cough. It acts as an antispasmodic.
read – Peanut Qualities, Benefits, Research
Pharmacological activities
Solanum tuberosum possesses antioxidant, anticancer, antiallergic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti-ulcer activity.
Medicinal uses
Anemia – Potatoes are rich in iron and folic acid; therefore it can be useful in Anemia.
Burning, redness – Due to its soothing properties, potatoes applied externally can be beneficial for skin irritations.
Gastritis, colitis, intestinal ulcer – It has anti-ulcer and healing properties.
read – Turmeric Curcuma Longa Benefits, Uses, Dosage, Side Effects
Chemical components
Solanum tuberosum possesses phytochemicals such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytates, folates, anthocyanins and carotenoids.
polemic
Aaluka and its varieties mentioned in Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, is considered to be that of Dioscorea species.
varieties
According to Bhavamishra, there are 6 types of Aaluka
1. Tubers – The tubers are strong. In Hindi it is known as Catalan
2. Shankhaluka – white in color. Known as Shankalu in Hindi
3. Hasthyaaluka – Large size
4. Round – Globular in shape. Commonly known as Suthani or Pindaalu.
5. Madvaaluka – It is sweet in taste and the outer surface is hairy. It is known as Deerg suthani in Hindi
6. Raktaaluka – It is red in color. Commonly known as rathaalu, rathaalu / rathanda.
read – Surana Elephant Foot Yam Uses, Research, Medications, Side Effects
Sanskrit verse
Reference to Aluka in Ayurveda Briyattrayis
Acharya Charaka mentioned potatoes as the unhealthiest among tubers. (CS Su 25/39).
Aaluka (potato) is mentioned as one of the shaaka varga (vegetables) – (CS Su 27/98)
Acharya Sushrutha and Vagbhata have also mentioned this plant in SS Su 46/298 and A .H Su 6/93 respectively.
Classical categorization
Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – String jokes
Scientific classification
Kingdom – Plants
Subkingdom – Viridaeplantae
Division – Tracheophyta
Subdivision – Spermatophytina
Class – Magnoliopsida
Order – Solanales
Family – Solanaceae
Genus – Solanum
Type – S. tuberosum
Vernacular names
English name – potato
Sanskrit name – Golakandah
Hindi name – Alu
Gujarati name – Papata
Bengali name – Golalu
Marathi name – Batata
Malayalam name – Urulakkilan
Kannada name – Batate, Alugadde
English name – Fatherhood
Tamil name – Urulaikkizhangu, Urala-kalangu
Telugu Name – Bangaaladumpa, Urlagadda
French name – potato
Portuguese name – Batata
Spanish name – Papa
Name Germany – Kartappe
Sanskrit Synonyms
Aaruka, Aarooka, Veerasena, Veera, Veeraaruka, Aaluka
