Solanaceae medicinal plants in Morocco and worldwide: A bridge between folk medicine and science

Medicinal plants have long been used worldwide to treat various diseases. Solanaceae species are a prominent part of these practices. The present work highlighted the traditional uses of these plants and gathered the most recent scientific findings on their biological properties. More than 140 studies that concern folk medicine, phytochemical screening, or diverse biological activities of Solanaceae medicinal species were collected using various scientific search engines including Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. This review bridges the gap between conventional practices and modern research, raising awareness of the imperative need to explore certain species such as Mandragora automnalis, Mandragora officinarum L., Nicotiana tabacum L., and various Solanum members that have garnered attention elsewhere but remain unstudied in Morocco. Moreover, this study illuminated the advantageous effects of some endemic plants and exceptionally rare species including Atropa baetica, and Atropa belladona. In this context, more comprehensive studies have been recommended to protect these unique species in order to ensure the preservation of biodiversity.