Brinjal (Baingan): Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!

Introduction

Brinjal is scientifically known as Solanum melongena L. and belongs to the Solanaceae family. It is an annually growing plant of subtropical and tropical regions, grown extensively for its berry-like fruit. This crop is widely grown in China, Bangladesh, Philippines, India and Pakistan¹. 

This bushy plant is a rich source of flavonoids, alkaloids, and other bioactive compounds, like arginine, aspartic acids, etc. It has various common names such as Begun (in Bengali), Baigan (in Hindi), Vartaku (in Sanskrit), Vangi (in Marathi), and Brinjal (in English). It is confirmed that there are about 15-20 varieties of brinjals, making them available in a wide variety of colours, shapes, and from various countries. Brinjals have many Ayurvedic medicinal properties; hence, they are also known as the King of Vegetables^1,2. 

Nutritional Value of Brinjal

Brinjals (Baingan) are an essential source of nutrients that are beneficial to human health. 

Nutritional Value (per 100g)

• Energy: 25 kcal
• Carbohydrate: 5.88 g
• Protein: 0.98 g
• Sugars: 3.53 g
• Total lipid: 0.18 g
• Fibre: 3 g

Vitamins and Minerals in Brinjal

• Calcium: 9 mg
• Iron: 0.23 mg
• Magnesium: 14 mg
• Phosphorus: 24 mg
• Potassium: 229 mg
• Sodium: 2 mg
• Zinc: 0.16 mg
• Copper: 0.081 mg
• Manganese: 0.232 mg
• Selenium: 0.3 µg
• Vitamin C: 2.2 mg
• Thiamin: 0.039 mg
• Riboflavin: 0.037 mg
• Niacin: 0.649 mg
• Vitamin B6: 0.084 mg
• Folate: 22 µg
• Choline: 6.9 mg
• Vitamin A: 1 µg
• Beta-carotene: 14 µg
• Vitamin E: 0.3 mg
• Vitamin K: 3.5 µg

Amino Acids in Brinjal

• Aspartic acid: 0.164 g
• Threonine: 0.037 g
• Isoleucine: 0.045 g
• Leucine: 0.064 g
• Lysine: 0.047 g
• Phenylalanine: 0.043 g
• Valine: 0.053 g
• Arginine: 0.057 g
• Glutamic acid: 0.186 g
• Proline: 0.043 g

Properties of Brinjal

Brinjal is grown mainly for food and medicinal purposes. The bioactive components of this plant might have potential helpful properties¹. Some potential properties include:

• It may act as an antioxidant (prevents oxidative stress)¹.
• It may have analgesic properties (helps reduce pain).
• It may work as an antipyretic (helps reduce high fever).
• It may have anti-inflammatory effects (helps reduce swelling).
• It may show anti-asthmatic potential (may help prevent asthma attacks).
• It might support lipid-lowering activity.
• It might help with blood pressure regulation.

Including brinjal in your diet may correct your iron balance. Consuming brinjal, which is known to have iron-chelating properties, may be beneficial for pregnant females, lactating mothers, and teenage females. The iron in eggplant has the potential to help with conditions like pre-menstrual syndrome, amenorrhoea, and antenatal anaemia⁵.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Potential Uses of Brinjal

Brinjals are a unique source of nutrients and might be helpful to human health. Brinjals have been used in traditional medicine to manage many diseases⁴. Some of the potential uses of brinjal are described as follows. 

1. For Diabetes 

Brinjal is a rich source of fibre and has low soluble carbohydrate levels, making it a potent option for managing type 2 diabetes. Studies⁴ found that brinjal might help with glucose levels in the blood in diabetic animal models. These studies showed that brinjal might be a good addition to the daily diet to help with oxidative stress, glucose levels and blood pressure in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. However, more studies on humans are required. 

2. For Obesity 

Brinjal might effectively help with the digestion of lipids and their absorption into the body, which means that having brinjals regularly will allow you to enjoy your burgers safely too (somewhat at least). It also contains bioactive compounds, which might have the potential to solubilise serum triglycerides (fats) and cholesterol in the body and help manage body weight⁴. However, there is a requirement for more studies on this subject. 

3. For Cancer 

Brinjal might have beneficial effects against different types of cancer, such as lung cancer and gastric (related to the gut) cancer. The dietary fibre present in brinjal might promote the digestion of food. It may also eliminate the toxic wastes from the body that eventually helps with cancer of the stomach or colon⁴. This may indicate potential benefits of brinjal for cancer, however, studies are insufficient to establish the impact on human health. 

4. For Skin and Hair 

Brinjal is composed of fat, vitamins, lots of water and minerals that might help with better skin tone and quality of skin, hair, and nails. It may also help with cancer of the skin². However, much more extensive research is required in this area to state the above-mentioned potential uses as facts. 

5. Other Potential Uses

• Brinjal may help to lower the risk of many heart diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, by reducing the damage caused by free radicals.
• It may help with blood circulation in the heart due to its essential components such as bioactive compounds, potassium, fibre and vitamin B6.
• Brinjal contains different vital minerals such as copper, manganese, potassium and magnesium that might help with bone health.
• The roots of brinjal are blended and boiled with sour milk and grain porridge (sticky meal) to manage syphilis. These are also decocted for use as a cure to prevent bleeding, asthma and skin diseases. Your Ayurvedic physician will guide and prescribe this to you if and when necessary. So, ensure that you consult them before using brinjal for the above-mentioned purpose.
• Brinjal may be associated with good brain health.
• Brinjal also contains essential plant nutrients, which might help enhance memory and protect cells of the brain².

Though there are studies that show the benefits of brinjal in various conditions, these are insufficient, and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of brinjal on human health.  

Based on my experience, consuming a carotenoid-rich diet, such as eggplant, may help address vitamin A deficiency, which is a common problem among school-going children, particularly in developing countries. The carotenoids present in eggplant are easily converted into vitamin A in the body, providing a natural and accessible source of this essential nutrient.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

How to Use Brinjal

Brinjal can be used in the following ways: 

• Brinjals are used in modern and traditional countries to cure various diseases, create ornaments, as food, in religious rituals and even as fuel.
• As food, it can be cooked, boiled, stewed, grilled, baked, pickled, mashed, roasted, dried, fried and even microwaved.
• The roots, stalk, skin and leaves of brinjal can be used by an Ayurvedic physician to prepare medicines, and the dried shoots of brinjal are used as a fuel.
• It might also be applied to wounds and cuts².

You must consult a qualified doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Do not discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an ayurvedic/herbal preparation without consulting a qualified doctor.   

Incorporating dry eggplants into your diet may have potential benefits in the management of stomach bloating, gas, and piles. Dry eggplants are known to possess certain compounds that can help improve digestion, reduce gas formation, and alleviate symptoms associated with piles⁵.

Dr. Smita Barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.

Side Effects of Brinjal

In recent years, consumption of brinjal may have caused rare allergic reactions. However, some sensitive individuals are generally affected by a minor class of allergens present in brinjal. The potential allergen is found to be non-protein metabolites. The most common side effects of brinjal are itching of the throat, skin rashes all over the body, discomfort and hoarseness (gruffly voice). If such allergic reactions appear, consult your Ayurvedic physician immediately. 

Precautions to Take with Brinjal

Since allergic reactions are observed with brinjal consumption, general precautions need to be followed to avoid health issues. Please do not use herbs for self-treatment without consultation with a qualified doctor.

• Brinjal is a very rich source of iron and may be helpful for pregnant women and lactating mothers². However, ensure that you consult your Ayurvedic physician before consuming it.
• Side effects of brinjal are observed as allergies, causing immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity reactions. Since young children don’t have mature immune systems, they might develop allergic reactions towards brinjal. Thus, extra precautions need to be taken while giving them to children. Consult your Ayurvedic physician if any health-related issue appears.

Interactions With Other Drugs

There is no evidence of the interactions between brinjal and other drugs. However, more research is required to confirm its safety in the presence of a drug. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

1. Das M, Barua N. Pharmacological activities of Solanum melongena Linn. (Brinjal plant). Int J Green Pharm. 2013 Oct 1;7(4):274-7. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270016065_Pharmacological_activities_of_Solanum_melongena_Linn_Brinjal_plant 
2. Fraikue FB. Unveiling the Potential Utility of Eggplant: A Review. 2016 Aug 1;1. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310846026 
3. Gürbüz N, Uluişik S, Frary A, Frary A, Doğanlar S. Health benefits and bioactive compounds of eggplant. Food Chem. 2018 Dec 1;268:602–10. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.06.020. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.06.093 
4. Ferrara L. A case of allergy and food sensitivity: the nasunin, natural color of eggplant. J Pharm Bio Sci. 2015 Oct 1;5(10):54-8. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lydia-Ferrara-2/publication/283538679_A_case_of_allergy_and_food_sensitivity_the_nasunin_natural_color_of_eggplant/links/5643402308aef646e6c69439/A-case-of-allergy-and-food-sensitivity-the-nasunin-natural-color-of-eggplant.pdf 
5. Naeem MY, Ugur S. Nutritional content and health benefits of eggplant. Turkish J Agric Food Sci Technol. 2020;7(sp3):31–6. doi:10.24925/turjaf.v7isp3.31-36.3146. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338402175_Nutritional_Content_and_Health_Benefits_of_Eggplant

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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