ˈsōləˌnēn, -_nə̇n noun
also so·la·nin -_nə̇n
( -s )
Etymology: French solanine, from Latin solanum nightshade + French -ine
1. also solanine-t usually capitalized T
[ solanine-t from solanine + t, initial of New Latin tuberosum (specific epithet of Solanum tuberosum, a solanaceous plant from which it is produced), from Latin, neuter of tuberosus tuberous]
: a bitter crystalline glycosidal alkaloid C 45 H 73 NO 15 that has toxic properties of a saponin, that is obtained from several solanaceous plants (as potato sprouts and eyes, tomatoes, and the berries of black nightshade and bittersweet), and that on hydrolysis yields solanidine, glucose, galactose, and rhamnose
2. : any of several glycosidal alkaloids (as solasonine) related chemically to solanine