In India the roots are used against fever, dropsy, diarrhoea and rheumatism, the bark to treat concussion or bruises. The berries contain a pinkish juice, and provide a yellow dye which becomes brown on paper. A. solanacea is also planted as an ornamental. Leaves - raw or cooked, Ripe fruits - eaten fresh, A yellow dye is obtained from the fruit, The pinkish fruit provides a yellow dye, which becomes brown on paper.

ഇതിന്റെ വേരുകൾ പനി, വയറിളം, വാതം എന്നിവ ചികിത്സിക്കാൻ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു.

Trees of about 6 m height with smooth brown bark. Leaves simple, alternate, obovate, elliptic-obovate or oblanceolate with acuminate or acute  apex, base cuneate, margin entire or obscurely crenate, glabrous, glaucous beneath, coriaceous, gland-dotted; petiole to 10 mm long, stout, glabrous; lateral nerves 9-20 pairs, parallel, slender, obscure, secondary laterals faint, intercostae obscure. Flowers are bisexual, bright pink, in axillary or lateral umbels; peduncle 5-12 cm long; bracts 1.5-2 mm long, concave, deciduous. Persistent, leathery Calyx with 5 lobes, 3 x 1.5 mm, concave, ovate, obtuse, ciliate, twisted to right. Corolla 2.5 cm across; lobes 5, twisted to right, in bud, 10 x 7 mm, ovate, coriaceous, punctuate. Stamens 5, connivent around style, exserted; filaments short; anthers sagitate, 7 mm. Ovary superior, globose 3 x 2 mm, 1-celled; ovules numerous; style elongate as long as the corolla lobes; stigma terminal. Fruit is a globose, bright red berry, 8 mm across.