solanine

1. (organic chemistry) A poisonous glycoalkaloid found in many species of the nightshade family Solanaceae, including potato and tomato.Examples: "1989, R. P. Sharma, D. K. Salunkhe, Chapter 8: Solanum Glycoalkaloids, Peter R. Cheeke (editor), Toxicants of Plant Origin: Alkaloids, Volume 1: Alkaloids, page 214, Apparently the high activity of α-solanine injected into the bloodstream may be due to cholinesterase inhibition, while the lesser effects of orally administered α-solanine could reflect its poor adsorption from the gastrointestinal tract."; "The most potent inhibitors are found in potatoes, and of these the most active component is the glycoalkaloid solanine. The toxicity of solanine has been the subject of extensive study."; "Evidently, during the ripening process, the solanines are metabolised to neutral saponins without the occurrence of glycoside hydrolysis."countableuncountable